The announcement of President Donald Trump of attack on Nigeria over the random killing of Christians by jihadists has triggered a spending spree by the Nigerian government.
The giant bills picked by the federal government are to lobby Washington forces and create a semblance of good image for the country contrary to the position of White House.
The effort to influence Washington’s perception of its internal security challenges escalated into an intense lobby seeking to sway President Donald Trump over allegations of a “Christian genocide” in the country.
According to an AFP report, Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, engaged the DCI Group on behalf of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu last month to “assist the Nigerian government … in communicating its actions to protect Nigeria’s Christian communities and maintaining US support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilising elements,” according to a newly released filing with the US Department of Justice.
The agreement signed on December 12, Nigeria paid DCI USD750,000 per month for six months which is a total of $4.5 million retainer covering six months of work for “public affairs, government relations and advocacy services.” The deal will automatically renew for another six months unless either party cancels it.
The contract was signed by Aster Legal managing director Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim and DCI Group managing partner Justin Peterson. The firm did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment.
President Bola Tinubu’s regime and allies moved swiftly after Trump warned in November that the United States could intervene in Nigeria “guns ablazing.”
The Nigerian government signed a $750,000-per-month, renewable contract with the Republican-linked DCI Group, initially covering six months.
The deal is aimed at engaging US policymakers on visa policy, military cooperation, trade and tariffs, while also highlighting Nigeria’s efforts to protect both Christians and Muslims and combat jihadist violence.
These details were disclosed by Africa Confidential, that the lobbying push has unfolded alongside intensified US–Nigeria security cooperation, including closer intelligence coordination and US air strikes on suspected jihadist targets in northern Nigeria during the Christmas period.
Details of the DCI Group contract show that Tinubu’s allies are paying the firm – via Aster Legal – to explain Nigeria’s security strategy and seek continued US support in countering jihadist groups across West Africa.
The contract is reportedly led by DCI’s managing member, Justin Peterson, and senior adviser Doug Davenport, a long-time Republican strategist with close ties to Trump.
The report outlines a rapid sequence of events following Trump’s November 1, 2025 statement. Between November 2 and 19, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and his team held high-level meetings with the US Department of Defense and Trump-aligned officials.
On November 20, Ribadu and Nigerian intelligence officers met US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine.
Subsequently, Nigeria and the US established a Joint Working Group to accelerate intelligence sharing and arms requests.
US air strikes initially planned for December 24 were moved to December 25, following Trump’s insistence on Christmas Day operations.
The lobbying battle is set against a looming US congressional decision in the first quarter of 2026 on whether to approve the sale of $346 million worth of precision-guided munitions to Nigeria.
The Office of the National Security Adviser has confirmed receiving over $100 million worth of military equipment in recent weeks, while at least 12 Bell Textron AH-1Z Cobra attack helicopters valued at $997 million are expected to be delivered by 2028.
Meanwhile, sources in Abuja have confirmed that the federal government has formally engaged the DCI Group to support Nigeria’s strategic engagement with the United States across security, diplomacy, trade and values-based policy priorities.
According to officials familiar with the deal, the engagement is intended to ensure clear and consistent communication of Nigeria’s reform agenda and security efforts, strengthen ties with US policymakers and faith-based leaders, and reinforce cooperation on counter-terrorism and regional stability.
A DCI Group representative said the firm was “pleased to support the Government of Nigeria in communicating its efforts to protect Christians and people of all faiths from radical jihadist groups, while also strengthening trade and commercial ties that benefit both countries.”
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