Nigeria hints embattled Jupiter Limited plots campaign of calumny during Tinubu’s visit to UK

*The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, affirms the embattled Jupiter Limited ‘deceitful enterprise’ in the mining sector met the full weight of the law, insisting it cannot, and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning ongoing reforms

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government has said that an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Limited, plans to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the country during the historic state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom (UK).

The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) disclosed this development Sunday, March 15, 2026, in a statement.

Earlier in the week, the Ministry said Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser (SA) to the Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, had authored a robust response to a tissue of falsehoods sponsored by Jupiter Limited in a publication, titled: “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard”.

The government’s response, titled: “In Nigeria’s Mining Sector, The Law Is No Respecter of Persons”, exposed the antics of certain Steve Davis and Hamish MacDonald.

The Ministry emphasised how the duo’s “deceitful enterprise” in the mining sector eventually, met the full weight of the law.

Segun Tomori, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media Sunday, March 15, 2026, states: “We made it unequivocally, clear that the allegations are baseless and unfounded.

“The Federal Government, through the Ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office (NMCO), has no legal or contractual relationship with any company, known as Jupiter Lithium, as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA 2007) expressly prohibits the granting of mining licences to foreign companies.”

The bone of contention between Nigerian Government, Jupiter Limited

The Ministry also explained the bone of contention is the “strict application of regulations governing the mining sector”, which necessitated the revocation of mineral titles belonging to a Nigerian company, Basin Mining Limited, fronted by the said Mr. Davis, an Australian national.

The Federal Government said it effected the licence revocation after due notice was served on the company in line with extant laws on default in payment of annual service fees.

The statement further noted that the government revoked the said mineral titles due to failure to pay statutory annual service fees, amounting to Two Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira (₦2,494,000,000) for mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML, and 40533ML for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

The Minister averred: “Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm.

“This is a complete fabrication!”

According to Tomori, instead of adhering to extant Nigerian mining laws, Davis would rather operate surreptitiously, as a mining speculator who sets up companies to acquire mineral titles and shortchange the West African country.

The government says unfortunately, for him and his ilk, strict application of the regulations caught up with them in the process.

The statement as well stressed same Davis is a Director in six such companies namely: Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd, and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.

The Nigerian Government said through these fronts, he held several licences but chose to cry blue murder when the law caught up with one of his companies for defaulting on statutory obligations.

“Such practices worsen Nigeria’s challenge of illegal mining, as speculators obtain licences without undertaking actual mining operations, thereby denying serious investors with genuine capital the opportunity to develop the sector,” the statement noted.

It restated that the “nefarious activities of the past that stunted the growth of the mining sector will no longer be tolerated by the Tinubu administration.”

The statement also emphasised the ongoing reforms that have repositioned the sector and attracted growing global interest have come to stay.

It said: “We, therefore, urge Nigerians and the international community to be wary of the impending show of shame by a few discredited individuals, who are bent on circumventing the Federal Government’s resolve to restore sanity and transparency to the mining sector.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company.”

The government stated: “Our commitment to transforming the mining sector into a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is unwavering.

Nigeria remains open to serious investors who are willing to operate within the framework of our laws and regulations.

“To encourage responsible investment, government,  has introduced incentives, such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment, full repatriation of profits, and other measures aimed at enhancing the Ease of Doing business in the sector.”

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