Nigeria’s decision to spend up to $9 million on a United States lobbying contract has drawn scrutiny, with analysts linking the move to a prolonged gap in the country’s diplomatic representation abroad.
Documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act show the Nigerian government hired DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying and public relations firm, to counter pressure from US lawmakers over allegations of violence against Christian communities. The contract, signed on 17 December 2025, allows for payments of $750,000 per month, totalling $4.5 million for an initial six months, with an automatic renewal that could double the cost.
The agreement was executed through Aster Legal, acting on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. It authorises the firm to communicate Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts and maintain US support against jihadist groups in West Africa.
Foreign policy experts say the deal exposes the cost of Nigeria’s failure to appoint ambassadors since September 2023, when President Bola Tinubu recalled all envoys. Key capitals, including Washington, have remained without substantive ambassadors for over a year.
Former Foreign Affairs spokesman Ogbole Amedu-Ode said senior diplomatic presence matters. “In diplomacy, rank counts,” he noted, warning that Nigeria risks losing influence without ambassadors in place.
Another former ambassador said lobbying firms often fill gaps left by absent diplomats, but at a high price. He stressed that diplomacy should not be outsourced for long periods.
The Federal Government has rejected claims of targeted killings of Christians, insisting insecurity affects all communities. However, analysts argue that the absence of ambassadors has weakened Nigeria’s ability to push its narrative through official channels.
