President Bola Tinubu. Photo credit: State House
Nigerian government has signed a $9 million contract with a US-based lobbying firm to communicate its efforts in protecting Christians to the United States government.
According to documents filed with the US Department of Justice, Kaduna-based law firm Aster Legal engaged DCI Group, a public affairs and lobbying firm in the US, on behalf of Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser.
The agreement, signed on December 17, 2025, by Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, managing partner of Aster Legal, and Justin Peterson, managing member of DCI Group, outlines the firm’s role in supporting Nigeria’s efforts abroad.
The contract states that DCI Group will “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 initial six-month contract runs until June 30, 2026, with an automatic option for renewal for an additional six months. A termination clause allows either party to end the agreement for any reason with 60 days’ written notice.
As part of the contract, Nigeria made a $4.5 million pre-payment to DCI Group on December 12, 2025. According to the agreement, “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 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 US concern over reports of killings of Christians in Nigeria. In October 2025, former President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’, following allegations of a Christian genocide in the country—claims repeatedly denied by the Nigerian government.
In November 2025, Trump had warned that the US might intervene militarily in Nigeria, saying it could go into the country “guns-a-blazing to wipe out the terrorists killing our cherished Christians,” after some US politicians raised the issue of a genocide.
The US later launched airstrikes on Christmas Day 2025 against terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza LGA, Sokoto State, as part of counterterrorism operations in the region.
(With additional reports from The Cable)
