Nigeria Engages US Lobbyists For $9m To Project Christian Protection Efforts

The federal government has hired a United States lobbying firm in a $9 million agreement to help convey its efforts at protecting Christian communities in Nigeria to the US government.

The contract details were contained in a lobbying contract filed with the US Department of Justice.

The document showed that Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, retained the services of DCI Group on behalf of Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA).

DCI Group is a public affairs and lobbying firm headquartered in the United States.

The agreement was executed on December 17, 2025, by Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, managing partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, managing member of DCI Group.

Under the terms of the contract, the firm is expected to “assist the Nigerian government through Aster Legal in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining U.S support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements”.

The agreement was fixed for an initial six-month period ending on June 30, 2026, with provisions for an automatic six-month renewal.

The contract includes a termination clause allows either party to end the contract for any reason without penalty, provided 60 days’ written notice is issued.

According to the contract details, Nigeria paid DCI Group $4.5 million on December 12 as a six-month retainer.

“Client shall pay Consultant a monthly retainer seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000; being full payment of professional fees and expenses covered under this agreement),,” the contract stated.

“The monthly payment shall be made in two (2) six-month installments of four million five hundred thousand dollars ($4,500,000) one due (a) upon execution of this Agreement and the other (b) upon expiration of six months from the effective date.”

The engagement comes amid heightened scrutiny from the US government over reports alleging the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

In October, Donald Trump, US president, redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ following claims of a Christian genocide.

The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of genocide and pledged to sustain diplomatic engagement with the United States.

In November, Trump threatened to enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians”, after repeated claims by some US lawmakers.

On Christmas Day, the US carried out air strikes on two terrorist enclaves located in the Bauni forest in Tangaza local government area of Sokoto state.