Nigeria has hired a United States lobbying firm in a $9 million contract aimed at shaping Washington’s perception of its security response to violence against Christian communities, amid heightened scrutiny from US officials.
Documents filed with the US Department of Justice show that DCI Group, a Washington-based public affairs and lobbying firm, was engaged to brief American policymakers on Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts and its handling of religiously motivated violence.
The contract was executed on December 17, 2025, through Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm acting on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Under the agreement, DCI Group is expected to communicate Nigeria’s actions to protect Christian communities and sustain US support for its fight against jihadist groups operating across West Africa.
Financial disclosures show that Nigeria has already paid $4.5 million as an advance retainer, with the total value of the contract fixed at $9 million. The deal provides for a monthly fee of $750,000, covering professional services and related expenses.
The arrangement runs for an initial six-month period ending June 30, 2026, with an automatic extension unless terminated by either party with 60 days’ notice.
Deal Comes Amid Renewed US Pressure
The hiring of the lobbying firm comes as the United States intensifies attention on reports of killings of Christians in Nigeria.
In October, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing allegations of systematic violence against Christian communities, claims Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected.
US officials and lawmakers have accused Abuja of failing to protect religious minorities. Nigerian authorities deny the allegations, arguing that the country’s security crisis is driven by terrorism, insurgency, and banditry, rather than religious persecution.
Trump’s Warning Raises Diplomatic Tensions
Tensions escalated further in November when President Trump warned that the United States could intervene militarily if violence against Christians in Nigeria continued.
The comments drew strong reactions in Abuja, with Nigerian officials insisting that such claims misrepresent the nature of the country’s security challenges.
Nigeria has since pledged to engage more directly with Washington to counter what it describes as mischaracterisations of its counterterrorism efforts.
US Airstrikes Signal Deeper Involvement
On Christmas Day, the United States carried out airstrikes on two terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, signalling deeper American involvement in counterterrorism operations linked to Nigeria’s security concerns.
The strikes followed increased intelligence cooperation between both countries, even as diplomatic disagreements persist over how violence in Nigeria is framed internationally.
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