In a high-stakes move to reshape its international reputation, the Nigerian government has secured a $9 million contract with a prominent U.S. lobbying firm. The objective is to directly influence American policymakers by promoting Nigeria’s narrative on protecting Christian communities.
The contract, filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, reveals that the deal was facilitated by a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal, acting on behalf of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. They have retained the services of Washington D.C.’s DCI Group.
The firm’s mandate is to systematically communicate the government’s efforts to safeguard Nigerian Christians and to bolster continued U.S. support for combating jihadist groups in West Africa. The initial six-month agreement, which began in December 2025, included an upfront payment of $4.5 million.
This costly public relations campaign comes against a backdrop of intense pressure from the United States. The Trump administration has redesignated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” with some U.S. politicians alleging a Christian genocide—a claim Abuja vehemently denies. The situation escalated with former President Trump’s threats of military intervention and culminated in U.S. airstrikes on Nigerian soil on Christmas Day.
The lobbying effort appears to be Nigeria’s strategic counter-push, aiming to control the narrative in Washington corridors of power and secure political and military support on its own terms.