The Federal Government has reportedly hired a United States lobbying and public affairs firm in a $9 million contract to defend Nigeria’s security record and counter allegations of violence against Christian communities in Washington.
According to The Guardian, filings with the US Department of Justice show that DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm, was engaged to brief US policymakers on Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations and its response to claims of religiously motivated killings.
Documents indicate that the agreement was signed on December 17, 2025, through Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm acting on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Under the deal, DCI Group is tasked with outlining Nigeria’s efforts to protect Christian communities and maintaining US support for the country’s fight against jihadist groups operating across West Africa.
The contract runs for an initial six months, ending June 30, 2026, with an automatic extension unless either party gives 60 days’ notice. Financial disclosures reportedly show that Nigeria has already paid $4.5 million as an upfront retainer, with the total value of the agreement pegged at $9 million.
The arrangement includes a monthly fee of $750,000 to cover professional services and related expenses. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny in the United States over reports alleging widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria.
In October, US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”, citing claims of systematic violence against Christian communities—allegations Nigerian authorities have repeatedly denied.
US officials and lawmakers accused the Federal Government of failing to protect religious minorities, while Nigerian officials insist the country’s insecurity stems from terrorism, banditry and organised crime, not religious persecution.
Diplomatic tensions escalated further in November when Trump warned that the United States could intervene militarily if attacks on Christians continued.
