The Nigerian government has accused mining firm Jupiter Limited of orchestrating a smear campaign against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, allegations the company denies.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in a statement released via presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare, asserted that Jupiter fabricated claims of its lithium mining licence being revoked to favour a Chinese company. The government stated the revocation was a routine regulatory action taken after Jupiter failed to pay N2.49 billion in outstanding annual service fees.
This public dispute emerges ahead of President Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, a timeline the government suggests is deliberately targeted by the company’s narrative. “Jupiter… peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm. This is a complete fabrication,” the ministry’s statement read.
According to the ministry, due notice was issued prior to the revocation, which was executed in full compliance with mining sector regulations. The firm’s allegations, it argued, are a strategic attempt to discredit ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and apply pressure on the federal government.
The statement issued a stern warning to what it described as “antics” by entities attempting to undermine regulatory enforcement. “The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company,” it declared.
The core of the conflict centres on Jupiter’s claim that its mineral titles were arbitrarily cancelled and reassigned. The government’s rebuttal frames the action as a non-negotiable enforcement of financial obligations within a sector it is actively trying to formalise and attract investment into. Lithium, a critical mineral for global battery and tech supply chains, makes such projects strategically significant.
The government’s firm stance underscores its commitment to a rules-based approach in mining, positioning the revocation as a matter of contractual and legal compliance, not political favouritism. The public accusation against Jupiter signals a willingness to confront corporate dissent aggressively, particularly when timed against a major diplomatic engagement.
The episode highlights the tensions between Nigeria’s drive to overhaul its mining governance and the business interests of existing licence holders. As the administration pushes for transparency and revenue optimisation, similar clashes over compliance and contract termination may arise. The government’s next steps will likely involve continued regulatory enforcement, while Jupiter may pursue legal or public relations avenues to contest the revocation. The situation serves as a test case for how Nigeria manages disputes in its efforts to build a more accountable and investment-friendly mining sector.
