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Mining firm petitions FG over alleged invasion, theft of 12 truckloads of lithium (See document)
A registered mining company, K.M. Done Mining Limited, has petitioned the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development over the alleged forceful invasion of its licensed mining site in Saki, Oyo State, and the theft of 12 truckloads of lithium ore by West Africa New Energy Material Company Limited.
In the petition addressed to the Zonal Mines Officer, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, South-West Zonal Office, Ibadan, the company accused its rival of deploying security operatives to carry out acts of forceful entry, assault, unlawful arrest, and the ejection of its workers from the site.
The petitions, dated January 12 and 15, 2026, were written by the firm’s counsel, Y.A. Azeez (Esq.), who alleged that officials of West Africa New Energy Material Company, “in connivance with men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and mining marshals,” invaded the site and carted away large quantities of lithium ore.
According to the petition, the first operation was allegedly carried out with seven trucks, each conveying about 35 tonnes of lithium ore belonging to K.M. Done Mining Limited.
The company said the seven trucks were later intercepted in Ilorin, Kwara State, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), leading to the arrest and detention of the trucks and their drivers.
However, it alleged that “having met brick walls in Kwara State,” the same company returned to the mining site with five additional trucks, each with a capacity of about 50 tonnes, to cart away more lithium ore.
Four of the trucks were said to have been diverted to Ogun State, where the lithium ore is allegedly being kept at the yard of M & W Transportation Company Limited, Saapade, Ode-Remo, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The remaining truck reportedly developed a mechanical fault near the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic area of Saki.
In the January 15 petition, which made reference to the earlier one, the company described the development as “disheartening,” noting that the alleged second invasion occurred on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, while investigations into the earlier incident were still ongoing.
“It is disheartening to report that while the seizure and the culprits are still being investigated, the same company forcefully re-entered our client’s mining site with compromised security operatives,” the petition stated.
The firm further alleged that it had since been barred from accessing its licensed mining site by West Africa New Energy Material Company, allegedly using policemen, soldiers, mining marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and hoodlums.
The petition also claimed that three workers of K.M. Done Mining Limited were still being detained at the Mining Marshal headquarters of the NSCDC in Abuja “for no offence,” without being charged to court or granted administrative bail.
Denying allegations of illegal mining, the company insisted that it was operating strictly within its duly allocated mining site.
“Our client is not an illegal miner. They are on the exact site allotted to them and did not encroach on anyone’s concession,” the petition read.
It added that the company had “consistently and regularly paid royalties to the coffers of the Federal Government,” describing the alleged actions of the rival firm and its collaborators as “criminality taken too far in broad daylight.”
The company urged the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to urgently intervene by notifying relevant law enforcement agencies “to ensure that the perpetrators do not go away with their criminalities.”
“As a law-abiding company, we have consistently advised our client not to resort to self-help that may lead to a breakdown of law and order,” the petition stated, while also alleging that the rival firm was parading fake documents and bribing its way through security agencies.
Efforts to get a response from West Africa New Energy Material Company Limited were unsuccessful as of press time.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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