The Federal Government says an embattled mining company is planning a smear campaign against Nigeria ahead of President Bola Tinubu's state visit to the United Kingdom, according to Punch.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development said the dispute grew out of the revocation of mineral titles linked to Basin Mining Ltd after the company allegedly failed to meet statutory financial obligations. The ministry said the unpaid service fees for 2024 and 2025 totalled N2.494 billion across several licences.
Government officials also rejected claims that a British lithium project was seized under armed guard or reassigned to a Chinese firm, describing those allegations as false. The ministry said it remains committed to reforms aimed at ending dormant licences, curbing illegal mining and repositioning the sector as a stronger contributor to economic growth.
Source: Punch Newspapers
