The federal government has entered into a $9 million contract with a United States–based lobbying firm to help convey Nigeria’s efforts to protect Christians to the US government.
According to a lobbying disclosure filed with the US Department of Justice, Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm, engaged DCI Group on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. DCI Group is an American public affairs and lobbying firm.
The agreement was signed on December 17, 2025, by Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, managing partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, managing member of DCI Group.
Under the terms of the contract, DCI Group is expected to “assist the Nigerian government through Aster Legal in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining US support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilising elements.”
The contract is set to run for an initial six months, ending on June 30, 2026, with an automatic renewal for another six months unless terminated. A clause in the agreement allows either party to end the contract for any reason without penalty, provided 60 days’ written notice is given.
Reacting to this, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing it of prioritising image laundering abroad over pressing security and economic challenges at home.
In a statement posted on Wednesday via X, the party’s spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the expenditure as “obscene” and evidence of “misplaced priorities and moral blindness,” especially at a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with rising food prices, fuel costs, and limited access to basic healthcare.
“No government in Africa has ever committed such an obscene sum to a short-term public relations exercise,” the ADC said, while acknowledging the importance of international engagement.
The party argued that spending $9 million on image management amid widespread hardship was unjustifiable.
The ADC further described the move as an admission of diplomatic failure, noting that several key ambassadorial positions remain vacant.
According to the party, relying on foreign lobbyists instead of strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic corps weakens institutional credibility and reduces foreign policy to “transactional propaganda.”
READ ALSO: Trump threatens more airstrikes in Nigeria if attacks on Christians continue
The party called on the Tinubu administration to redirect public resources toward addressing insecurity, economic hardship, and strengthening Nigeria’s diplomatic institutions rather than pursuing what it termed an image-repair campaign abroad.
On December 12, Nigeria reportedly paid DCI Group $4.5 million as a six-month retainer pre-payment. The contract specifies a monthly retainer of $750,000, covering professional fees and expenses, to be paid in two six-month instalments of $4.5 million each.
The engagement comes amid heightened interest from the US government over reports of killings of Christians in Nigeria. In October, former US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over allegations of a Christian genocide.
The Nigerian government has consistently denied the genocide claims and pledged to engage with US authorities. In November, Trump further escalated the rhetoric, threatening to intervene militarily to protect Christians in Nigeria.