Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has accused mining firm Jupiter and its partners of launching an international disinformation campaign against the Federal Government over the revocation of their mining licences.
Bamigbetan alleged that the campaign was intended to pressure the Nigerian government into reversing its decision against companies that failed to meet their statutory financial obligations.
He made the allegations in a rejoinder to an article published by Gordon Rayner in the Telegraph of the United Kingdom on October 18, 2026, which raised questions about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s support for Britain while advising Nigeria.
The presidential aide argued that the report contained contradictions, particularly concerning the alleged involvement of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in advising the Nigerian government and claims that Jupiter was denied the opportunity to execute its mining licence.
According to Bamigbetan, the institute and the Federal Government have denied the existence of a contract for the institute to advise the government.
He also maintained that Jupiter was not recognised as a company under Nigerian law, describing Basin Mining Limited and Range Mining Limited as its partners.
Bamigbetan said the two companies lost their mining licences for failing to pay annual service fees to the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office despite repeated notices.
He disclosed that Basin Mining Limited owed N1.223 billion, equivalent to approximately £691,368, in outstanding fees.
He added that penalties continued to accumulate and that legal proceedings to recover the outstanding funds were underway.
The aide accused Jupiter of pursuing an international campaign against Nigeria instead of settling its partners’ liabilities or allowing the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes to determine the dispute.
He described the campaign as an attempt to damage Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic interests, arguing that companies operating in the country must comply with its laws and regulatory requirements.
Bamigbetan traced the dispute to the solid minerals sector reforms initiated by Alake after assuming office in August 2023.
He said the minister introduced a zero-tolerance policy for violations of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007, following concerns over the accumulation of unpaid statutory fees despite investments in the Electronic Mining Cadastre Plus automation system.
According to him, the government notified affected companies and gazetted defaulters before revoking their licences in accordance with the law.
He said at least 1,663 mining licences were revoked in November 2023 as part of the exercise to enforce compliance across the sector.
Bamigbetan added that the government subsequently provided a three-month restitution window to allow affected operators to present complaints and seek consideration where exceptional circumstances warranted it.
However, he alleged that Steve Davis, whom he identified as Jupiter’s promoter, discouraged his partners from taking advantage of the opportunity and instead threatened to use his international connections to frustrate the Nigerian government.
The presidential aide further alleged that the dispute had triggered a campaign targeting Nigeria in Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe.
He also accused Davis of attempting to influence international opinion during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026.
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Bamigbetan urged journalists to independently verify claims relating to the dispute before publishing reports, warning against the use of media platforms to promote narratives that could undermine Nigeria’s interests.
He argued that any company with a strong legal case should pursue the appropriate dispute-resolution process rather than rely on international publicity to pressure the government.
Bamigbetan is a journalist and Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
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