The Federal Government has raised concerns over an alleged attempt by a mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, to discredit Nigeria ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s planned state visit to the United Kingdom.
Officials said the move is linked to an ongoing dispute over revoked mineral licences. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development stated that the company intends to spread misleading information about Nigeria’s mining sector to damage the country’s image before the international community.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the ministry rejected claims that Nigeria forcefully took over a British lithium project. It described such allegations as false.
The statement read, “It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development that an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, plans to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the Federal Government of Nigeria during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
“Earlier in the week, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, authored a robust response to a tissue of falsehoods sponsored by Jupiter Ltd in a publication titled ‘Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard.’
“Our response, titled ‘In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons,’ exposed the antics of one Steve Davis and Hamish MacDonald, whose deceitful enterprise in the mining sector eventually met the full weight of the law.
“We made it unequivocally clear that the allegations are baseless and unfounded. The Federal Government, through the ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act expressly prohibits the granting of mining licences to foreign companies.”
Tomori explained that the dispute began after authorities revoked licences held by Basin Mining Ltd. He said the company is linked to an Australian national, Steve Davis, who allegedly fronts several mining firms operating in Nigeria.
He added that the action followed the company’s failure to meet financial obligations required by law.
“The bone of contention is the strict application of regulations governing the mining sector, which necessitated the revocation of mineral titles belonging to a Nigerian company, Basin Mining Ltd, fronted by the said Mr Davis, an Australian national.
“The revocation was done after due notice was served on the company in line with extant laws on default in payment of annual service fees,” Tomori stated.
According to the ministry, Basin Mining Ltd failed to pay N2.494bn in statutory fees for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The affected licences include 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML.
The government also dismissed claims that the revoked licences were handed over to a Chinese firm. It described the allegation as an attempt to mislead both Nigerians and foreign stakeholders.
“Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm.
“This is a complete fabrication! Instead of adhering to Nigerian mining laws, Davis would rather operate surreptitiously as a mining speculator who sets up companies to acquire mineral titles and shortchange the nation.
“Unfortunately for him and his ilk, the government’s strict application of the regulations caught up with them.
“The same Davis is a director in six such companies: Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd, and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
“Through these fronts, he held several licences but chose to cry blue murder when the law caught up with one of his companies for defaulting on statutory obligations.
“Instead of adhering to Nigerian mining laws, Davis would rather operate surreptitiously as a mining speculator who sets up companies to acquire mineral titles and shortchange the nation,” the statement added.
The ministry said such practices have contributed to dormant licences and illegal mining activities across the country. It stressed that ongoing reforms are aimed at ending these issues and improving transparency in the sector.
“The nefarious activities of the past that stunted the growth of the mining sector will no longer be tolerated by the Tinubu administration.
“Ongoing reforms that have repositioned the sector and attracted growing global interest have come to stay.
“We, therefore, urge Nigerians and the international community to be wary of the impending show of shame by a few discredited individuals who are bent on circumventing the Federal Government’s resolve to restore sanity and transparency to the mining sector,” Tomori said.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reforms and warned that it would not bow to pressure.
“Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is unwavering,” he added.
The ministry maintained that Nigeria remains open to investors who comply with its laws.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company.
“Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is unwavering.
“Nigeria remains open to serious investors who are willing to operate within the framework of our laws and regulations.
“To encourage responsible investment, the government has introduced incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment, full repatriation of profits, and other measures aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in the sector,” the statement concluded.
President Tinubu is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom from March 18 to 19, 2026, following an invitation from King Charles III. The visit will take place at Windsor Castle and is expected to strengthen ties between Nigeria and the UK.
It will be the first state visit by a Nigerian President to the UK in 37 years. Previous visits took place in 1973, 1981 and 1989.
