FG engages US lobbying firm for $9m to relay Christian protection efforts to Washington

The Federal Government has entered into a $9 million contract with a United States–based lobbying firm to help convey Nigeria’s efforts at protecting Christian communities to the US government.
Documents filed under the US Department of Justice’s Foreign Agents Registration Act show that 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 an American public affairs and lobbying firm.
The agreement was executed on December 17, 2025, with the contract signed by Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, managing partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, managing member of DCI Group.
Under the terms of the agreement, the US lobbying firm is expected to assist the Nigerian government—through Aster Legal—in communicating its actions aimed at protecting Christian communities in Nigeria, while also sustaining US support for efforts to counter West African jihadist groups and other destabilising forces.
The contract is set to run for an initial period of six months, ending on June 30, 2026, with provisions for an automatic renewal for an additional six months.
A termination clause in the agreement allows either party to end the contract at any time and for any reason, without penalty, provided a 60-day written notice is given to the other party.
On December 12, Nigeria paid DCI Group $4.5 million as a six-month advance retainer for the engagement.
According to the contract’s fee and expenses section, the client is to pay a monthly retainer of $750,000, covering professional fees and associated expenses. The total payment is structured into two six-month instalments of $4.5 million each—one payable upon execution of the agreement and the other due after the first six months.
The decision to hire the American lobbying firm comes amid heightened scrutiny by the US government over reports alleging the killing of Christians in Nigeria.
In October, former US President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” following claims of a Christian genocide in the country.
The Nigerian government has consistently rejected allegations of genocide against Christians and pledged to engage US authorities on the issue.
In November, Trump threatened to intervene militarily in Nigeria, stating he would go in “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians,” following repeated claims by some US lawmakers that Christians were being targeted in the West African nation.
On Christmas Day, the United States carried out airstrikes on two terrorist enclaves located in the Bauni forest in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
Source: TheCable