Abuja, Nigeria – The federal government of Nigeria has alleged that a mining company currently involved in a dispute with authorities is planning a campaign aimed at discrediting the country during the upcoming state visit of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the United Kingdom.
Officials at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the government body responsible for regulating the mining sector in Nigeria, said the company, Jupiter Ltd, was allegedly preparing what the government described as a “campaign of calumny” targeting Nigeria in international media during the diplomatic visit.
President Tinubu is scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, March 18, 2026 to Thursday, March 19, 2026, following an invitation from King Charles III, the monarch of the United Kingdom. The Nigerian leader is expected to be hosted at Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British monarch.
In a statement issued on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Special Assistant on Media to Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, rejected claims circulating in foreign publications that Nigeria had seized a British lithium project under armed guard.
Tomori said the allegations were inaccurate and misleading, adding that the federal government had no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium.
According to him, Nigeria’s mining regulations clearly prohibit foreign companies from directly owning mineral titles in the country.
“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,” the statement said.
The ministry explained that the controversy arose after the government revoked several mineral titles previously held by Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian registered company associated with Steve Davis, an Australian national involved in mining operations in Nigeria.
Government officials said the licences were withdrawn after the company allegedly failed to meet financial obligations required under Nigeria’s mining laws.
According to the ministry, Basin Mining Ltd failed to pay statutory annual service fees totalling ₦2.494 billion (about $1.6 million) for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
The unpaid fees covered mineral licences identified as 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML. Authorities said the licences were revoked only after the company was given due notice in line with existing regulations governing the mining sector.
The ministry also rejected claims that the revoked licences were subsequently reassigned to a Chinese company, describing the allegation as a fabrication intended to mislead both Nigerians and the international community.
Officials further stated that Davis had interests in several mining companies operating in Nigeria, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd, and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
According to the government, such corporate arrangements are sometimes used by speculators to obtain mineral titles without conducting real mining activities.
The ministry said this practice has contributed to the persistent problem of dormant mining licences and illegal mining operations across Nigeria.
Nigeria is currently undertaking reforms aimed at strengthening regulation of its solid minerals industry and increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy. Okay News reports that authorities see the mining sector as an important alternative source of revenue as the country works to diversify away from dependence on crude oil exports.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company,” Tomori added.
“Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product is unwavering.”
The ministry urged Nigerians and international investors to disregard what it described as attempts by “discredited individuals” to undermine ongoing reforms in the country’s mining sector.
Nigeria possesses significant deposits of solid minerals including lithium, gold, iron ore and rare earth elements, resources that the government hopes to develop as part of its broader economic diversification strategy.
The upcoming visit by President Tinubu to the United Kingdom is expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, investment, security and migration.
