The Federal Government has accused a mining company, Jupiter Ltd, of attempting to discredit Nigeria’s mining sector ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s planned state visit to the United Kingdom.

In a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the government alleged that the company was preparing to circulate misleading claims about Nigeria after the revocation of mineral licences linked to its associates.

According to the ministry, the licences were withdrawn from Basin Mining Ltd after the company allegedly failed to meet its statutory obligations, including the payment of annual service fees amounting to about ₦2.49 billion for 2024 and 2025.

The government also dismissed claims that it seized a British lithium project or reassigned the revoked licences to a Chinese firm, describing the allegations as false.

Officials maintained that the licence revocation followed due process and formed part of broader reforms aimed at enforcing transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s mining sector.