The Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has reportedly approved a $9 million, or about N13 billion, lobbying contract with a Republican-linked firm in Washington, DC, amid escalating diplomatic tensions with the United States.
According to an investigative report by The Africa Report on Tuesday, the contract aims to engage the administration of former US President Donald Trump and key American lawmakers on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly the killings of Christians in northern regions.
Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, facilitated the engagement of the US lobbying firm DCI Group through Kaduna-based law firm Aster Legal. US Department of Justice filings cited in the report show that the Tinubu administration paid an initial $4.5 million on December 12, 2025, covering a six-month retainer. A second $4.5 million installment is due by July 2026, bringing the total contract value to $9 million, or roughly $750,000 per month.
The filings indicate that DCI Group was hired to help Nigeria communicate its efforts to protect Christian communities and sustain US support for counterterrorism operations against jihadist groups in West Africa. The agreement was signed by Aster Legal’s Managing Director, Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, and DCI Group’s Managing Partner, Justin Peterson, a Republican strategist and ally of Trump.
The lobbying deal comes weeks after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged government failures to curb violence against Christians. Shortly after the contract was finalized, the US imposed a partial travel ban on Nigerian citizens, affecting tourist, business, and student visas, citing security vetting gaps and visa overstays.
Tensions further escalated on December 25, 2025, when US forces carried out an airstrike in Sokoto State targeting suspected insurgent hideouts. Trump warned that additional strikes could follow if attacks on Christian communities persisted.
Despite these strains, the Trump-led US administration later supplied Nigeria with military equipment to help combat insecurity, suggesting a possible behind-the-scenes agreement. This aligns with previous diplomatic engagements, including visits by NSA Ribadu and other Nigerian officials to the US, and reciprocal visits by American lawmakers to Nigeria last year.
