By Oso Abidemi
The Federal Government’s reported $9 million lobbying contract in the United States has triggered widespread criticism, with analysts and opposition parties describing the move as an act of desperation driven by Nigeria’s prolonged failure to appoint ambassadors.
Documents filed under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) show that Nigeria engaged DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying and public relations firm with links to U.S. President Donald Trump, to manage the country’s image and counter allegations of targeted killings of Christians.
The contract, dated December 17, 2025, authorises monthly payments of $750,000 over an initial six-month period, amounting to $4.5 million, with a possible renewal bringing the total to $9 million.
The deal was reportedly facilitated through Aster Legal, acting on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Critics say the arrangement exposes the cost of Nigeria’s diplomatic paralysis following President Bola Tinubu’s recall of all ambassadors in September 2023, a vacuum that remains unresolved more than a year later.
Foreign policy analysts argue that the absence of substantive ambassadors in key capitals, including Washington, forced the government to rely on expensive foreign lobbyists to articulate its position under increasing international scrutiny.
Opposition parties have faulted the decision. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), described the contract as evidence of misplaced priorities amid worsening insecurity and economic hardship, insisting that no amount of foreign lobbying could substitute for effective governance and protection of lives at home.
The party also warned that framing the engagement around “Christian protection” risked deepening religious tensions.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), labelled the contract deceptive and embarrassing, questioning why an administration with a full Ministry of Information and multiple media aides would outsource its image management abroad.
The party demanded clarification on the budgetary provision for the deal and called on the government to prioritise security reforms over public relations.
Diplomats and analysts also weighed in. The President of the Association of Foreign Relations Professionals, Ambassador Gani Lawal, said the lobbying deal was a consequence of neglecting Nigeria’s diplomatic machinery, stressing that ambassadors are meant to serve as the country’s first line of defence in shaping global perception.
Meanwhile, the controversy comes amid rising pressure from the United States, which recently redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged violence against Christians, a claim Abuja has consistently rejected. Compounding tensions, Washington has announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and dozens of other countries.
As calls grow louder for the deployment of ambassadors and a clearer foreign policy strategy, observers say the $9 million lobbying deal has evolved into a broader debate on Nigeria’s diplomatic readiness and the cost of delayed decision-making on the global stage.
