FG hires US lobbyist for $9m to communicate Christian protection efforts to US

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 14 January 2026 8:19am WAT

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Washington-based lobbying firm, DCI Group

Washington-based lobbying firm, DCI Group

Nigeria has hired a United States lobbying and public affairs firm in a $9 million contract to communicate its security efforts and response to violence affecting Christian communities to policymakers in Washington.

Documents filed with the US Department of Justice show that DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm, was contracted to engage US officials on Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations and its handling of allegations of religiously motivated violence. The agreement was executed on December 17, 2025, through Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm acting on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. Under the contract, DCI Group is expected to outline Nigeria’s measures to protect Christian communities and to help sustain US support for the country’s campaign against jihadist groups operating across West Africa.

The arrangement runs for an initial six-month period ending June 30, 2026, and contains an automatic extension clause unless either party terminates the agreement with 60 days’ notice. Financial disclosures indicate that Nigeria has already paid $4.5 million as an advance retainer, with the full value of the contract set at $9 million. The agreement provides for a monthly fee of $750,000 to cover professional services and related expenses.

The decision to engage a lobbying firm comes amid renewed attention in the United States to reports alleging killings of Christians in Nigeria. In October, President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern”, citing claims of systematic violence against Christian communities, allegations that Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected. US officials and lawmakers have accused Abuja of failing to adequately protect religious minorities. Nigerian officials counter that the country’s security crisis is driven by terrorism, banditry and organised criminal violence rather than religious persecution.

In November, Trump warned that the United States could intervene militarily if violence against Christians continued, a statement that heightened diplomatic tension between the two countries. Nigerian authorities subsequently pledged to engage more directly with Washington to counter what they described as mischaracterisations of the country’s security challenges. On Christmas Day, the United States carried out air strikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, signalling deeper American involvement in counterterrorism efforts linked to Nigeria’s security concerns.

On Tuesday, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced via X that it had delivered military supplies to Nigerian security agencies. “U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasises our shared security partnership,” the post read. The delivery followed a visit by a Nigerian delegation to Washington in November 2025, aimed at strengthening security cooperation and exploring new avenues for partnership.

The delegation was led by Ribadu and included the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi; the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Undiandeye; and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. During meetings with officials from the US Congress, the White House Faith Office, the State Department, the National Security Council and the Department of War, the Nigerian delegation addressed allegations of genocide in the country, stressing that violent attacks affect communities across religious and ethnic lines. According to the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the engagements were aimed at correcting perceptions about Nigeria’s security situation.

“The discussions provided ample opportunity to correct misconceptions about Nigeria, forged a constructive, solution-driven partnership with the United States, reinforced mutual trust, and advanced a coordinated approach to protecting vulnerable communities, especially in the Middle Belt,” Onanuga said. He added that both countries agreed to implement a non-binding cooperation framework and to establish a Joint Working Group to ensure a coordinated approach to the areas of collaboration identified. Onanuga said the Nigerian government reaffirmed its commitment to civilian protection, noting that “firm, urgent, and coordinated steps are being taken to secure the nation.”

He also said the United States had expressed readiness to provide additional support, including humanitarian assistance for affected communities in the Middle Belt and technical assistance to strengthen early-warning systems. The latest delivery of military supplies, he added, reflects ongoing efforts by both governments to reinforce security cooperation and address threats posed by terrorism and violent extremist groups in Nigeria.

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