Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kehinde Bamigbetan, has challenged a British newspaper report questioning former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s function in advising Nigeria, arguing the allegations surrounding a mining licence dispute contradict obtainable regulatory data.
Bamigbetan, in a rejoinder to an article revealed by The Telegraph on October 18, 2026, disputed claims regarding mining firm Jupiter and its companions, Basin Mining Limited and Range Mining Limited, insisting the businesses misplaced their licences for failing to pay statutory annual service charges.
He stated Basin Mining Limited owed N1.223 billion in excellent charges, including that the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office had issued a number of notices earlier than the licences had been revoked.
He additionally stated authorized proceedings to get well the excellent quantities had been underway.
The presidential aide argued that the dispute ought to be resolved by means of the suitable authorized course of somewhat than by means of worldwide publicity, whereas questioning the premise of allegations that Nigeria’s engagement with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change may undermine British nationwide safety pursuits.
According to him, the institute and the federal authorities had denied the suggestion that it held a contract to advise the Nigerian authorities.
Bamigbetan traced the dispute to reforms launched by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, following his appointment in August 2023, saying the administration had prioritised compliance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
He stated the ministry revoked at the least 1,663 mining licences in November 2023 over regulatory defaults and subsequently offered a three-month window for affected operators to current complaints and search redress.
The aide alleged that Steve Davis, whom he recognized as Jupiter’s promoter, had mounted a world marketing campaign in opposition to the federal authorities following the revocations.
He maintained the businesses involved ought to meet their statutory obligations or pursue their grievances by means of the established authorized channels.
