President Bola Tinubu’s administration has reportedly spent $9 million to hire a Republican lobbying firm in the United States in an effort to improve diplomatic relations with President Donald Trump and address growing pressure over insecurity in Nigeria.
According to an investigation published by The Africa Report on Tuesday, the contract was facilitated through Kaduna-based law firm Aster Legal, which engaged DCI Group to lobby Washington on Nigeria’s behalf, particularly on efforts to curb terrorist attacks and protect Christian communities in the country’s northern region.
The report said the Nigerian government paid an initial $4.5 million tranche on December 12, 2025, with a second payment due by July 2026, making the deal one of the most expensive lobbying contracts by an African country.
Justice Department filings cited in the report stated that DCI Group was mandated to “assist the Nigerian government… in communicating its actions to protect Nigeria’s Christian communities and maintaining U.S. support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilising elements.”
The agreement, valued at $750,000 per month, was signed by Aster Legal managing director, Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, and DCI Group managing partner, Justin Peterson, a known ally of Mr Trump.
The development followed Nigeria’s redesignation by the U.S. as a country of particular concern and a subsequent partial travel ban on Nigerians, as well as U.S. airstrikes on insurgent targets in Sokoto State.
Commenting on the deal, former Pentagon official Chidi Blyden said the seven-figure contract reflected the Tinubu administration’s urgency to stabilise relations with Washington amid escalating security and diplomatic tensions.