As the conflict in the Middle East continues to take a significant toll on the world's oil supply, Nigeria's foreign minister has invited the Gulf countries and oil producers to look at Nigeria as a partner in supplying the global market. Story by Clémence Waller and Gabrielle Nadler.
Monday, March 16, 2026
Could Nigeria become an alternative oil supplier to the Middle East?
As the conflict in the Middle East continues to take a significant toll on the world's oil supply, Nigeria's foreign minister has invited the Gulf countries and oil producers to look at Nigeria as a partner in supplying the global market. Story by Clémence Waller and Gabrielle Nadler.
Nigeria accuses mining firm of smear campaign ahead of Tinubu’s UK visit amid lithium dispute
Nigeria’s government has accused a mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, of planning to spread false claims about the country’s mining sector as a dispute over revoked mineral licences escalates ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom.
In a statement on Sunday, Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the company was allegedly preparing to circulate misleading information following a report titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard.”
The publication claimed Nigerian authorities had taken control of a lithium project linked to the firm and handed it over to Chinese operators.
Tomori rejected the claim, saying the government has no relationship with any company operating under the name Jupiter Lithium.
“We made it unequivocally clear that the allegations are baseless and unfounded. The Federal Government, through the Ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office (NMCO), has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA 2007) expressly prohibits the granting of mining licences to foreign companies,” he said.
Licence revocation
According to the government, the controversy stems from the cancellation of mineral titles held by Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company linked to Australian national Steve Davis.
Tomori said the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees required under Nigeria’s mining regulations.
“The revocation was done after due notice was served on the company in line with extant laws on default in payment of annual service fees,” he said.
“Hence, the mineral titles were revoked due to failure to pay statutory annual service fees amounting to Two Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira (₦2,494,000,000) for mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML, and 40533ML for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.”
The ministry also dismissed claims that the licences were reassigned to a Chinese operator.
“Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm. This is a complete fabrication!” Tomori said.
Company’s claims
In a statement issued on 12 March, Stephen Davis, chairman of Jupiter Lithium Ltd, alleged that Nigerian authorities had revoked the company’s mining rights and allowed Chinese operators to take control of the project.
The firm said it had spent years exploring and developing what it described as a major lithium deposit in Nigeria after securing mining rights in 2006. It also claimed security personnel escorted Chinese operators to the site following the revocation, allowing them to begin extracting lithium ore.
Jupiter warned that the dispute could raise questions about investor protection in Nigeria and potentially affect the country’s efforts to attract Western investment into its mining sector.
Speculative licences
Nigeria’s government rejected the allegations and said the dispute was strictly about regulatory compliance.
Tomori also alleged that Davis is linked to several companies operating in Nigeria’s mining industry, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
Authorities say some operators obtain mineral titles but fail to develop them, a practice that limits opportunities for serious investors and contributes to illegal mining.
“Such practices worsen Nigeria’s challenge of illegal mining, as speculators obtain licences without undertaking actual mining operations, thereby denying serious investors with genuine capital the opportunity to develop the sector,” Tomori said.
Global lithium race
The dispute comes as global demand for lithium continues to rise due to its critical role in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies.
Countries are increasingly competing for access to the mineral as the transition to cleaner energy accelerates. Nigeria has attracted growing investor interest after lithium deposits were identified across several central and northern states.
The government has been introducing reforms aimed at tightening oversight of mineral licences, encouraging local processing and attracting long-term investment into the sector as part of efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Despite the dispute, officials said the reforms will continue.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company,” Tomori said.
He added that Nigeria remains open to investors willing to operate within its legal and regulatory framework, noting that incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and the repatriation of profits are designed to support responsible investment.
In a statement on Sunday, Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the company was allegedly preparing to circulate misleading information following a report titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard.”
The publication claimed Nigerian authorities had taken control of a lithium project linked to the firm and handed it over to Chinese operators.
Tomori rejected the claim, saying the government has no relationship with any company operating under the name Jupiter Lithium.
“We made it unequivocally clear that the allegations are baseless and unfounded. The Federal Government, through the Ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office (NMCO), has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA 2007) expressly prohibits the granting of mining licences to foreign companies,” he said.
Licence revocation
According to the government, the controversy stems from the cancellation of mineral titles held by Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company linked to Australian national Steve Davis.
Tomori said the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees required under Nigeria’s mining regulations.
“The revocation was done after due notice was served on the company in line with extant laws on default in payment of annual service fees,” he said.
“Hence, the mineral titles were revoked due to failure to pay statutory annual service fees amounting to Two Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira (₦2,494,000,000) for mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML, and 40533ML for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.”
The ministry also dismissed claims that the licences were reassigned to a Chinese operator.
“Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm. This is a complete fabrication!” Tomori said.
Company’s claims
In a statement issued on 12 March, Stephen Davis, chairman of Jupiter Lithium Ltd, alleged that Nigerian authorities had revoked the company’s mining rights and allowed Chinese operators to take control of the project.
The firm said it had spent years exploring and developing what it described as a major lithium deposit in Nigeria after securing mining rights in 2006. It also claimed security personnel escorted Chinese operators to the site following the revocation, allowing them to begin extracting lithium ore.
Jupiter warned that the dispute could raise questions about investor protection in Nigeria and potentially affect the country’s efforts to attract Western investment into its mining sector.
Speculative licences
Nigeria’s government rejected the allegations and said the dispute was strictly about regulatory compliance.
Tomori also alleged that Davis is linked to several companies operating in Nigeria’s mining industry, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.
Authorities say some operators obtain mineral titles but fail to develop them, a practice that limits opportunities for serious investors and contributes to illegal mining.
“Such practices worsen Nigeria’s challenge of illegal mining, as speculators obtain licences without undertaking actual mining operations, thereby denying serious investors with genuine capital the opportunity to develop the sector,” Tomori said.
Global lithium race
The dispute comes as global demand for lithium continues to rise due to its critical role in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies.
Countries are increasingly competing for access to the mineral as the transition to cleaner energy accelerates. Nigeria has attracted growing investor interest after lithium deposits were identified across several central and northern states.
The government has been introducing reforms aimed at tightening oversight of mineral licences, encouraging local processing and attracting long-term investment into the sector as part of efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil.
Despite the dispute, officials said the reforms will continue.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company,” Tomori said.
He added that Nigeria remains open to investors willing to operate within its legal and regulatory framework, noting that incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and the repatriation of profits are designed to support responsible investment.
By Ayodeji Adegboyega, Business Insider Africa
Friday, March 13, 2026
Nigeria positions oil sector amid Iran conflict
Nigeria positions oil sector amid Iran conflict With the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked and oil prices volatile, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister is engaging directly with Gulf producers. He urged them to view Nigeria not as a competitor but as a strategic diversification partner, arguing that the current market uncertainty presents a prime opportunity for Nigeria to leverage its position on the global stage.
Nigeria begins evacuation of Its citizens stranded in Iran
Authorities say no Nigerian in Iran has been affected by the conflict so far and that officials are stationed at the Armenian border to assist all evacuees. The Nigerian government has begun evacuating its citizens stranded in Iran as Israeli and US bombings continue in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission said Tuesday that no Nigerian in Iran has, so far, been affected by the conflict and that officials are posted at the Armenian border to receive and assist all evacuees. "Nigerians who wish to leave Iran are being safely escorted across the Armenian border by officials from the Nigerian embassy in Tehran, ensuring a smooth and secure passage for those wishing to depart," the Commission said in a statement.
It did not specify the number of Nigerians living in Iran nor the number of citizens already evacuated. African countries have rushed to repatriate their nationals from the Middle East. Tanzania evacuated the first group of its citizens from the United Arab Emirates on Monday. The evacuees expressed relief as they reunited with their families at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. Iran says the war has killed more than 1,255 people and injured about 10,000.
By Dominic Wabwireh, Africa News
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Nigeria Overhauls Cosmetic Safety Standards to Stem Health Crisis
Nigeria has launched a new national policy to regulate cosmetic safety, aiming to curb toxic chemical exposure and protect public health across the nation.
A shopper in a bustling market in Kano, seeking a solution for minor skin blemishes, purchases an unlabeled brightening oil from an unmarked vendor. She believes the product is organic, yet within weeks, the skin barrier is compromised, and the chemical composition—unknown to both the buyer and the seller—begins to leach heavy metals into her bloodstream. This scenario, repeated in millions of daily transactions across Nigeria, has become the catalyst for a radical shift in federal regulatory oversight.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially inaugurated the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, a landmark regulatory framework designed to sanitize an industry long plagued by the proliferation of toxic, counterfeit, and hazardous products. This policy, launched following approval at the 66th National Council on Health in Calabar, aims to dismantle the informal economy of dangerous substances that threaten public health. With the cosmetics sector in Nigeria valued at billions of naira, the initiative represents the most significant state intervention in the country’s beauty industry in two decades, positioning Abuja to curb a quiet health crisis that has fueled rising rates of skin diseases, kidney damage, and endocrine disruption across the nation.
A shopper in a bustling market in Kano, seeking a solution for minor skin blemishes, purchases an unlabeled brightening oil from an unmarked vendor. She believes the product is organic, yet within weeks, the skin barrier is compromised, and the chemical composition—unknown to both the buyer and the seller—begins to leach heavy metals into her bloodstream. This scenario, repeated in millions of daily transactions across Nigeria, has become the catalyst for a radical shift in federal regulatory oversight.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially inaugurated the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, a landmark regulatory framework designed to sanitize an industry long plagued by the proliferation of toxic, counterfeit, and hazardous products. This policy, launched following approval at the 66th National Council on Health in Calabar, aims to dismantle the informal economy of dangerous substances that threaten public health. With the cosmetics sector in Nigeria valued at billions of naira, the initiative represents the most significant state intervention in the country’s beauty industry in two decades, positioning Abuja to curb a quiet health crisis that has fueled rising rates of skin diseases, kidney damage, and endocrine disruption across the nation.
The Hidden Toxicity in Everyday Products
For decades, the Nigerian beauty market has operated with limited standardized supervision, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to flood the market with products containing banned preservatives and heavy metals. Public health experts have long warned that the cumulative exposure to these chemicals—often applied daily over years—creates long-term systemic risks far more dangerous than occasional pharmaceutical use. The new policy identifies specific threats that have become endemic to the local market:
For decades, the Nigerian beauty market has operated with limited standardized supervision, allowing unscrupulous manufacturers and importers to flood the market with products containing banned preservatives and heavy metals. Public health experts have long warned that the cumulative exposure to these chemicals—often applied daily over years—creates long-term systemic risks far more dangerous than occasional pharmaceutical use. The new policy identifies specific threats that have become endemic to the local market:
Formaldehyde-releasing agents: Used in some hair products, these are known carcinogens that have slipped past basic inspections.
Heavy metal contamination: Mercury and lead, frequently found in skin-lightening creams, have been linked to irreversible neurological and organ damage.
Endocrine disruptors: Parabens and phthalates in lotions and perfumes interfere with hormonal functions, impacting reproductive health and developmental outcomes.
Unregulated manufacturing: Back-alley mixing of potent chemicals has created a category of products that are effectively poison sold as wellness.
These substances are not merely irritants they are vectors for chronic illness. Research suggests that the informal beauty sector has thrived on a lack of transparency, where ‘organic’ labels are frequently used as marketing camouflage for synthetic, caustic ingredients. The new policy mandates a shift toward rigorous laboratory testing, clear labeling, and enforced manufacturing standards that align Nigeria with international benchmarks for consumer safety.
Heavy metal contamination: Mercury and lead, frequently found in skin-lightening creams, have been linked to irreversible neurological and organ damage.
Endocrine disruptors: Parabens and phthalates in lotions and perfumes interfere with hormonal functions, impacting reproductive health and developmental outcomes.
Unregulated manufacturing: Back-alley mixing of potent chemicals has created a category of products that are effectively poison sold as wellness.
These substances are not merely irritants they are vectors for chronic illness. Research suggests that the informal beauty sector has thrived on a lack of transparency, where ‘organic’ labels are frequently used as marketing camouflage for synthetic, caustic ingredients. The new policy mandates a shift toward rigorous laboratory testing, clear labeling, and enforced manufacturing standards that align Nigeria with international benchmarks for consumer safety.
NAFDAC and the Teeth of Enforcement
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has moved rapidly to operationalize the policy. Under the new directive, the agency has initiated a comprehensive sweep of imported and locally manufactured goods. Princewill Nsofor, the Deputy Director in charge of Cosmetics and Household Products, has issued a clear warning to stakeholders: no cosmetic product will circulate within the Nigerian market without stringent regulatory clearance. This represents a pivot from reactive policing—responding to outbreaks of skin damage—to proactive market surveillance.
The policy establishes a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group, a body mandated to harmonize the efforts of various agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health. This institutional collaboration is intended to close the enforcement gaps that previously allowed unsafe products to migrate from ports of entry to rural markets unchecked. For the NAFDAC inspectors on the ground, the mandate is clear: identify, intercept, and eliminate substandard products. The agency has communicated that enforcement extends beyond major distributors to the micro-level markets, where the most vulnerable populations are often the primary consumers of high-risk items.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has moved rapidly to operationalize the policy. Under the new directive, the agency has initiated a comprehensive sweep of imported and locally manufactured goods. Princewill Nsofor, the Deputy Director in charge of Cosmetics and Household Products, has issued a clear warning to stakeholders: no cosmetic product will circulate within the Nigerian market without stringent regulatory clearance. This represents a pivot from reactive policing—responding to outbreaks of skin damage—to proactive market surveillance.
The policy establishes a National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group, a body mandated to harmonize the efforts of various agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health. This institutional collaboration is intended to close the enforcement gaps that previously allowed unsafe products to migrate from ports of entry to rural markets unchecked. For the NAFDAC inspectors on the ground, the mandate is clear: identify, intercept, and eliminate substandard products. The agency has communicated that enforcement extends beyond major distributors to the micro-level markets, where the most vulnerable populations are often the primary consumers of high-risk items.
Economic Implications for a Growing Sector
Nigeria’s beauty industry is a powerhouse of the African economy, serving as a critical entry point for international brands and a fertile ground for local entrepreneurship. However, the unchecked expansion of the sector has created a duality: a formal, regulated market and a parallel, shadow market that thrives on opacity. Industry analysts argue that the new policy, while initially disruptive, may provide the long-term infrastructure required for the sector to scale globally. By mandating safety compliance, the government is essentially raising the barrier to entry, which may squeeze out fly-by-night operators while providing a competitive advantage to legitimate, standardized Nigerian brands.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization and Resolve to Save Lives, have praised the policy as a pro-health and pro-industry framework. They contend that a safer, more transparent industry will increase consumer confidence, which is currently eroded by reports of cosmetic-related injuries. If Nigeria successfully executes this, the country could set a precedent for other nations in the Economic Community of West African States, demonstrating that strict safety regulation does not stifle growth but rather matures it into a sustainable, export-ready enterprise.
Nigeria’s beauty industry is a powerhouse of the African economy, serving as a critical entry point for international brands and a fertile ground for local entrepreneurship. However, the unchecked expansion of the sector has created a duality: a formal, regulated market and a parallel, shadow market that thrives on opacity. Industry analysts argue that the new policy, while initially disruptive, may provide the long-term infrastructure required for the sector to scale globally. By mandating safety compliance, the government is essentially raising the barrier to entry, which may squeeze out fly-by-night operators while providing a competitive advantage to legitimate, standardized Nigerian brands.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization and Resolve to Save Lives, have praised the policy as a pro-health and pro-industry framework. They contend that a safer, more transparent industry will increase consumer confidence, which is currently eroded by reports of cosmetic-related injuries. If Nigeria successfully executes this, the country could set a precedent for other nations in the Economic Community of West African States, demonstrating that strict safety regulation does not stifle growth but rather matures it into a sustainable, export-ready enterprise.
The Regional Mirror
The ripple effects of this policy will likely be felt far beyond Abuja. As a regional economic hub, Nigeria’s regulatory stance on consumer goods often dictates the flow of products across West Africa. For observers in Nairobi and other East African capitals, the Nigerian experiment offers a blueprint for balancing the demands of a rapid-growth consumer market with the necessity of public health protection. The challenges identified by Nigerian officials—specifically the difficulty of policing decentralized, informal markets—are common across the continent, where cross-border trade frequently outpaces regulatory capacity. Whether Nigeria can successfully translate policy into meaningful, on-the-ground change over the next five years will determine if this serves as a model or a missed opportunity.
As the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group begins its five-year tenure, the true test will not be the policy document itself, but the persistence of the enforcement teams on the streets of Lagos, Kano, and beyond. Every bottle of cream removed from a shelf or warning label enforced represents a potential medical crisis averted, marking a significant, albeit difficult, transition toward a more accountable consumer economy.
The ripple effects of this policy will likely be felt far beyond Abuja. As a regional economic hub, Nigeria’s regulatory stance on consumer goods often dictates the flow of products across West Africa. For observers in Nairobi and other East African capitals, the Nigerian experiment offers a blueprint for balancing the demands of a rapid-growth consumer market with the necessity of public health protection. The challenges identified by Nigerian officials—specifically the difficulty of policing decentralized, informal markets—are common across the continent, where cross-border trade frequently outpaces regulatory capacity. Whether Nigeria can successfully translate policy into meaningful, on-the-ground change over the next five years will determine if this serves as a model or a missed opportunity.
As the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group begins its five-year tenure, the true test will not be the policy document itself, but the persistence of the enforcement teams on the streets of Lagos, Kano, and beyond. Every bottle of cream removed from a shelf or warning label enforced represents a potential medical crisis averted, marking a significant, albeit difficult, transition toward a more accountable consumer economy.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)