The Federal Government has alleged that a mining firm plans to launch what it described as a smear campaign against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his ongoing state visit to the United Kingdom.
The allegation was made by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development through a statement issued by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori.
According to the ministry, the claim relates to disputes involving mining operations and regulatory enforcement within Nigeria’s mining sector.
The ministry stated that it had earlier responded to allegations published in a report titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard,” which it said contained inaccurate claims about government actions in the mining industry.
Officials said the response was issued earlier in the week by the minister’s Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, in a statement addressing the allegations and clarifying the government’s position on mining licences and regulatory compliance.
According to Tomori, the ministry became aware of plans by a mining firm identified as Jupiter Ltd to circulate negative publicity during President Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom.
He stated, “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.”
Tomori said the ministry had no legal or contractual relationship with any company identified as Jupiter Lithium.
He added that Nigerian mining regulations do not permit mining licences to be issued directly to foreign companies.
The statement also explained that the dispute is linked to the revocation of mineral titles belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company allegedly connected to Australian national Steve Davis.
According to the ministry, the titles were revoked after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees amounting to ₦2.494 billion covering the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
Tomori stated that the revocation followed due notice issued in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act and other relevant regulations governing mineral titles.
The ministry stated that government agencies responsible for mining oversight will continue to enforce regulations governing mineral titles and operations within Nigeria’s mining sector.
Officials also said the administration intends to sustain reforms aimed at improving transparency, compliance, and investment conditions in the sector.
