FG Engages US Lobbying Firm in $9m Contract to Communicate Christian Protection Efforts to Washington
The Federal Government of Nigeria has hired a United States–based lobbying and public affairs firm in a $9 million contract aimed at communicating its actions on the protection of Christian communities to the United States government. The agreement comes amid heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security challenges and allegations of targeted violence against Christians.
Details of the arrangement are contained in a lobbying contract filed with the United States Department of Justice in compliance with the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). According to the filing, Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, retained the services of DCI Group on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
DCI Group is a Washington-based public affairs and lobbying firm with experience in government relations, strategic communications, and policy advocacy. The contract was executed on December 17, 2025, and signed by Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, managing partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, managing member of DCI Group.
Under the terms of the agreement, DCI Group is expected to assist the Nigerian government, through Aster Legal, in communicating its efforts to protect Christian communities in Nigeria, while also sustaining US support for Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations against jihadist groups and other destabilising elements in West Africa.
Related News
DSS Tells Court Kaduna Man’s Tweets Could Drag Nigeria into Israel–Iran Conflict
Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, the Department of State Services (DSS), has told a court that social media posts allegedly made…
Nigeria Begins Evacuation of Citizens from Iran Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict
The Nigerian government has started evacuating its citizens from Iran as tensions in the Middle East intensify.
Nigeria Surpasses India in Number of People Living in Poverty – Report
New data shared by Statisense suggests that Nigeria now has a higher number of people living below the poverty line…
The initial duration of the contract is six months, running until June 30, 2026, with an automatic renewal clause for an additional six months unless either party opts to terminate the agreement. The contract allows for termination by either party without penalty, provided a 60-day written notice is issued.
Financial details outlined in the filing show that the Nigerian government agreed to pay the lobbying firm a monthly retainer of $750,000, covering professional fees and related expenses. This amounts to a total of $9 million for a 12-month period. On December 12, 2025, Nigeria reportedly paid $4.5 million as a six-month advance retainer.
The contract states that the retainer is to be paid in two instalments of $4.5 million each — the first upon execution of the agreement and the second after the expiration of the initial six-month term.
The engagement follows growing concern within sections of the US political establishment over reports of killings of Christians in Nigeria. In October, former US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing allegations of religious persecution. Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected claims of a Christian genocide, arguing that insecurity in the country affects all communities irrespective of religion.
In November, Trump further escalated rhetoric by threatening possible military action against terrorist groups in Nigeria, following claims by some US lawmakers and advocacy groups that Christians were being systematically targeted. The Nigerian government responded by reiterating its commitment to protecting all citizens and engaging diplomatically with international partners to clarify the situation.
On December 25, the United States carried out airstrikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest area of Tangaza Local Government Area in Sokoto State, an operation that Nigerian officials said aligned with broader counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
The lobbying contract has sparked debate domestically, with critics questioning the cost and timing of the engagement amid Nigeria’s economic challenges and persistent insecurity. Supporters, however, argue that strategic communication and diplomacy are necessary to counter misinformation, preserve international partnerships, and prevent policy decisions that could adversely affect the country.
As scrutiny continues, the agreement underscores the growing intersection between security, diplomacy, and international public relations in Nigeria’s response to complex internal conflicts.