Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has alleged that a mining company is planning to launch a smear campaign against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his visit to the United Kingdom (UK).
The ministry, in a statement issued by the media aide to the minister, Segun Tomori, said it had uncovered plans by a firm identified as Jupiter Ltd to circulate negative reports aimed at discrediting the Federal Government’s reforms in the mining sector.
“It has come to the attention of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development that an embattled mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, plans to orchestrate a campaign of calumny against the Federal Government of Nigeria during the state visit of President Bola Tinubu to the United Kingdom,” Tomori said.
He explained that the development followed a recent publication alleging that Nigeria seized a British lithium project under armed guard, a claim the ministry described as false and misleading.
According to him, the Federal Government has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, stressing that Nigeria’s mining laws do not permit mineral licences to be granted directly to foreign companies.
He added that the administration of President Tinubu would not be distracted by what it described as attempts to undermine ongoing reforms in the mining sector, noting that the government remains committed to attracting credible investors into the industry.
