Journalist and Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, has faulted a report by British newspaper, The Telegraph, on former United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair and Nigeria’s mining sector, describing its arguments as contradictory.
Bamigbetan, in a rejoinder to an article by Gordon Rayner published on October 18, 2026, questioned the report’s claims concerning Britain’s national security interests and the dispute involving Jupiter and its Nigerian partners.
He argued that the controversy was rooted in the revocation of mining licences belonging to Basin Mining Limited and Range Mining Limited over alleged failure to pay statutory fees to the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office.
According to him, Basin Mining Limited owes N1.223 billion in outstanding fees, equivalent to approximately £691,368, while penalties continue to accrue and legal proceedings to recover the debt are underway.
Bamigbetan also questioned the basis of concerns about Blair’s involvement in advising the Nigerian government, citing denials by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) and the Federal Government that the institute had a contract to advise Nigeria.
He maintained that Jupiter should pursue its grievances through established legal channels, including the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), rather than resort to international publicity over the dispute.
The special adviser accused Jupiter of attempting to portray itself as a victim of government action, arguing that the revocation of the licences followed alleged breaches of statutory obligations by its Nigerian partners.
He further alleged that Jupiter’s promoter, Steve Davis, had relied on political connections over the years while resisting regulatory requirements in Nigeria’s mining industry.
Bamigbetan said the situation changed in August 2023 when the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, assumed office and intensified efforts to enforce compliance with the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
According to him, the minister discovered substantial unpaid statutory fees owed to the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office despite government investments in the Electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (EMC+), an automated system designed to improve mining licence administration and service delivery.
He said the government subsequently notified affected operators and published the names of defaulters in the official gazette before revoking licences in line with applicable regulations.
Bamigbetan disclosed that at least 1,663 mining licences were revoked in November 2023 as part of the exercise.
He added that the government opened a three-month restitution window to allow affected operators to present complaints and explain circumstances that might warrant reconsideration.
However, he alleged that Davis discouraged his Nigerian partners from taking advantage of the opportunity and instead threatened to use his international connections to frustrate the Federal Government.
Bamigbetan further accused the businessman of mounting an international publicity campaign across Australia, Canada, the United States and Europe to challenge the government’s actions.
He also alleged that the dispute featured in narratives circulated during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which he claimed were intended to damage Nigeria’s image before Western governments and audiences.
The presidential aide insisted that the dispute should be viewed within the context of the government’s efforts to enforce mining regulations, promote accountability and recover outstanding statutory payments from operators.
He urged journalists to exercise caution when reporting claims made by parties involved in commercial and legal disputes, stressing the importance of independent verification before publication.
Bamigbetan argued that conflicting claims surrounding the dispute required careful scrutiny to avoid misleading the public or undermining Nigeria’s diplomatic and economic interests.
He is a journalist and Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development.
