The Federal Government of Nigeria (FRN) has strongly denied allegations of seizing a British lithium mining project under armed guard. The Nigerian government also refuted the claim of handing the mining project over to Chinese operators.
It therefore accused a foreign mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, of pushing the blackmail campaign targeted to embarrass President Bola Tinubu during his upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom.
Officials from the ministry of Solid Minerals Development described the claims as fabricated and misleading, a direct result of the lawful revocation of mineral titles held by Basin Mining Ltd, a local company associated with Australian businessman Steve Davis.
The revocation arised from the firm’s failure to pay over ₦2.49 billion in statutory annual service fees for 2024 and 2025, despite multiple notices, in full compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007.
The ministry emphasized that Nigeria’s laws prohibit direct mining licenses to foreign entities like the purported “Jupiter Lithium,” clarifying no contractual ties exist with such a company.
It further alleged Davis’s operation of several shell firms, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd, and Iron Ore Mining Ltd, harbouring licenses without genuine mining, thereby exacerbating illegal mining issues and blocking serious investors.
In a statement released by Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the government warned of a planned staged protest and media blitz during Tinubu’s UK visit scheduled between March 18th and 19th, and aimed at discrediting mining sector reforms.
These reforms, under President Tinubu, include tax waivers on imported equipment and profit repatriation to attract legitimate investors. The ministry urged the public and international community to ignore the “campaign of calumny,” while reaffirming commitment to regulatory enforcement without intimidation.
Officials stressed Nigeria’s mining sector remains open to compliant investors, positioning the incident as a pushback against speculative practices hindering development.
Amid rising electric vehicle demand, this development highlighted the ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s critical minerals sector, which is vital for global lithium supply.