The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a swipe at the Federal Government over reports that it hired a United States lobbying firm, DCI Group, for $9 million, describing the deal as both “defective and deceptive.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the opposition party said it was deeply troubled by revelations that the Nigerian government, through Aster Legal, engaged the American public affairs firm to help “communicate its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities.”
standarddailypress had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu’s administration approved the controversial lobbying contract with the Republican-linked firm in Washington, as part of efforts to placate U.S. President Donald Trump and avert further diplomatic or military measures that could hurt Nigeria’s global standing and the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to an investigative report published by The Africa Report, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, facilitated the engagement of DCI Group through a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal.
The contract is reportedly aimed at convincing the Trump administration and key U.S. lawmakers that Nigeria is taking concrete steps to tackle insecurity, particularly the killings of Christians in the country’s northern region.
U.S. Department of Justice filings cited in the report revealed that the Tinubu administration has already paid an initial $4.5 million to DCI Group on December 12, 2025. The payment covers a six-month retainer, with another $4.5 million due by July 2026, bringing the total value of the deal to $9 million, or $750,000 monthly. The PDP noted that this makes it one of the most expensive lobbying contracts ever signed by an African government.
The filings stated that DCI Group was hired to help the Nigerian government project its efforts to protect Christian communities and sustain U.S. support in countering jihadist groups and other destabilising forces in West Africa.
The agreement was signed by Aster Legal’s Managing Director, Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, and DCI Group’s Managing Partner, Justin Peterson, a prominent Republican strategist and close ally of President Trump.
The contract was finalised only weeks after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over what he described as the government’s failure to halt widespread killings of Christians. Just four days after the deal was sealed, the U.S. imposed a partial travel ban on Nigerians, affecting tourist, business and student visa applicants.
The Trump administration also cited high visa overstay rates and what it called the absence of a reliable Nigerian security framework for vetting travellers.
Reacting to the development, the PDP described the decision to hire a foreign firm for image laundering as embarrassing, especially when Nigeria already has a fully funded Ministry of Information and several media aides.
“This clearly shows that the President lacks confidence in the Ministry of Information and his media team,” the party said.
The PDP pointed out that the ministry is headed by experienced professionals, including a public relations expert who has managed government communication over the years.
The opposition party demanded clarity from the Presidency, asking whether the contract was provided for in the 2025 budget, why it was executed through a private law firm rather than the Federal Ministry of Justice, and what role Nigerian information officers in foreign missions were expected to play.
It also called for the disclosure of the Key Performance Indicators attached to the deal, so Nigerians can properly assess its value.
The PDP stressed that no amount of lobbying or public relations could replace the everyday realities faced by citizens, urging the Tinubu administration to prioritise security over what it described as “deceptive communication.”
“If the government truly wants to change Nigeria’s image abroad, it should invest in protecting lives and property. Nigerians have not felt this level of insecurity, even during the civil war,” the statement said.
The party concluded by urging the President to focus on the safety of all Nigerians, regardless of religion, noting that only a genuine reduction in killings and insecurity would naturally improve the country’s global image. It also warned against chasing “easy public validation through optics” instead of delivering lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security crisis.
