FG Alleges Smear Plot to Disrupt Tinubu’s UK State Visit

The Nigerian government has raised an alarm over a purported "campaign of calumny" orchestrated by an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, aimed at embarrassing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his high-profile state visit to the United Kingdom this week. In a statement released on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development alleged that the company plans to sponsor protests and circulate "misleading" media reports to discredit Nigeria's ongoing mining sector reforms.

The friction stems from a heated dispute over the revocation of several mineral titles. The government clarified that it has no direct legal relationship with "Jupiter Lithium," as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (2007) prohibits granting mining licenses directly to foreign entities. Instead, the controversy involves Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company reportedly fronted by an Australian national, Steve Davis. The ministry stated that these licenses were revoked following a failure to pay statutory annual service fees totaling N2.494 billion for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.

Jupiter Ltd previously published claims titled "Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard," alleging that security forces escorted Chinese operators to their sites. The Nigerian government has dismissed this as a "complete fabrication."

The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development maintained that the administration remains "unwavering" in its commitment to transparency and will not be intimidated by "blackmail" from disgruntled investors. They urged the international community to disregard any staged protests or "shows of shame" during the President’s stay in London, reaffirming that the law applies to all operators regardless of their nationality.

Do you think the government is right to stick to the letter of the law even if it risks discouraging foreign investors, or should there be more room for negotiation in such high-value sectors? Share your comments below!

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