FG Alleges Plot to Embarrass Tinubu During UK Visit

By Abah Margaret

The Federal Government has alleged that an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, is planning a campaign to discredit Nigeria during the upcoming state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom.

The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said the alleged move followed a dispute over revoked mineral licences and was aimed at undermining the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms in the mining sector.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, the ministry said the company and its associates were preparing to circulate misleading claims about Nigeria’s mining industry to the international community.

Tomori dismissed reports that Nigeria seized a British lithium project under armed guard, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

According to him, the Federal Government has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, noting that Nigerian mining laws prohibit foreign companies from directly holding mineral titles.

“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 during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom,” the statement said.

The ministry explained that the dispute stemmed from the revocation of mineral titles belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company linked to an Australian national, Steve Davis.

It stated that the revocation followed the company’s failure to meet statutory financial obligations under Nigeria’s mining regulations.

Tomori disclosed that Basin Mining Ltd lost its licences after failing to pay annual service fees amounting to N2.494bn for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

The affected licences included mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML and 40533ML, which were revoked after due notice was issued in line with existing laws.

The ministry also dismissed claims that the revoked licences were reassigned to a Chinese firm, describing the allegation as a fabrication aimed at misleading the public and the international community.

According to the statement, Davis allegedly has 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.

The government said such arrangements are often used by speculators to acquire mineral titles without undertaking actual mining operations.

The ministry noted that this practice had contributed to dormant licences and illegal mining activities in the country.

It, however, stressed that the Federal Government was determined to end such practices as part of broader reforms aimed at repositioning the mining sector as a major contributor to economic growth.

Tomori said the Tinubu administration would not be intimidated or blackmailed into reversing reforms designed to improve transparency, accountability and investor confidence in the sector.

He urged Nigerians and the international community to disregard what he described as attempts by discredited individuals to undermine Nigeria’s reform agenda.

Nigeria has intensified efforts in recent years to develop its vast solid mineral resources, including lithium, gold and iron ore, as part of a strategy to diversify the economy away from crude oil.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu is scheduled to embark on a state visit to the United Kingdom from March 18 to 19, 2026, following an invitation from King Charles III.

The visit, which will take place at Windsor Castle, is expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly in areas of trade, investment, security and migration.

It will mark the first state visit by a Nigerian President to the UK in 37 years.