The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has dismissed allegations circulating from a mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, describing them as misleading and part of an attempt to discredit the Nigerian government during the official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
The ministry said it had become aware of efforts by the company to promote claims against the Federal Government regarding mining activities in Nigeria, maintaining that the accusations are baseless and intended to misrepresent regulatory actions taken within the sector.
Earlier in the week, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, responded to a publication titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard,” which the ministry said contained several misleading claims associated with the company.
According to the ministry, Nigeria’s mining authorities, including the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, have no legal or contractual relationship with any entity known as Jupiter Lithium. It also noted that provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 prohibit foreign companies from directly holding mining licences in Nigeria.
The ministry clarified that the dispute arose from the revocation of mineral titles belonging to Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company reportedly associated with an Australian national, Steve Davis. The licences were withdrawn after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees despite receiving formal notices in line with regulatory procedures.
Officials said the outstanding obligations amounted to ₦2.494 billion, covering several mineral titles for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The ministry emphasized that the revocation followed due process and was consistent with the laws governing the mining sector.
It also rejected claims that the revoked licences were reassigned to a Chinese firm, describing the allegation as entirely unfounded.
According to the ministry, the individual linked to the issue has interests in several companies operating within the sector, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd. The ministry noted that such arrangements sometimes allow speculative operators to obtain licences without carrying out genuine mining activities, thereby limiting opportunities for serious investors.
The government reiterated that reforms currently underway in the mining sector are aimed at improving transparency, ensuring compliance with regulations and attracting credible investment.
It further stated that Nigeria remains open to responsible investors willing to operate within the country’s legal and regulatory framework, highlighting incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and the repatriation of profits.
The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, dated March 15, 2026.