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Nigerian Government Hires Lobbying Firm For $9m To Communicate Christian Protection Efforts To U.S.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has engaged a lobbying firm under a $9 million contract to help communicate its efforts at protecting Christians in the country to the United States government.

According to lobbying disclosure documents filed with the United States Department of Justice, Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, retained the services of DCI Group on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The filing indicates that the engagement is aimed at communicating Nigeria’s security policies, actions, and initiatives—particularly those relating to the protection of Christian communities—to U.S. government officials and relevant stakeholders.

The development comes amid sustained international scrutiny, especially from the United States and advocacy groups, over religious violence and insecurity in parts of Nigeria. In recent years, concerns have been raised in Washington about attacks on Christian communities, with calls for greater accountability and protection measures.

The disclosure has sparked public debate within Nigeria, with questions being raised about the size of the contract and the decision to employ foreign lobbying services to shape international perception of the country’s security efforts.

As of the time of filing, neither the Office of the National Security Adviser nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued an official public statement detailing the scope of the engagement or the specific deliverables under the $9 million contract.

DCI Group is a U.S.-based public affairs and strategic communications firm that has previously worked with governments, corporations, and advocacy groups on policy messaging and international outreach.