Tinubu Hires US Lobbying Firm Over Christian Protection in Nigeria
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The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has entered into a major foreign engagement as part of its efforts to address international concerns regarding Christian protection in Nigeria.
Reports indicate that the government signed a nine-million-dollar contract with a United States-based lobbying firm to help communicate its actions on Christian protection in Nigeria to the American government.
Documents filed with the United States Department of Justice revealed that Aster Legal, a law firm based in Kaduna State, engaged the services of DCI Group on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy by the Tinubu administration to shape global perception on the issue of Christian protection in Nigeria.
The agreement was signed on December 17, 2025, by the managing partner of Aster Legal, Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, and Justin Peterson of DCI Group. Under the contract, the American firm is expected to assist Nigeria in explaining its efforts at Christian protection in Nigeria and in maintaining United States support against jihadist and other destabilizing groups in West Africa.
According to the terms of the deal, the contract will run for six months until June 30, 2026, and will automatically renew for another six months. A clause also allows either party to terminate the agreement with a sixty-day written notice without any penalty.
Records further show that Nigeria has already paid four point five million dollars as a six-month retainer to the lobbying firm. The contract states that a monthly retainer of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars will be paid to cover professional fees and expenses related to Christian protection in Nigeria.
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The federal government’s decision comes amid increasing interest from the United States over reports of attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria. In October, Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a country of particular concern following allegations of genocide against Christians, claims that the Nigerian government has continued to deny while stressing its commitment to Christian protection in Nigeria.
In November, Trump also issued strong warnings, stating that the United States could intervene militarily if attacks on Christians persist. On Christmas Day, air strikes were reportedly carried out against terrorist enclaves in Sokoto State, a development that further heightened attention on Christian protection in Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview, Trump suggested that more strikes could follow if killings of Christians continue. “I’d love to make it a one-time strike … But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” he said.
While acknowledging that Muslims are also victims of extremist attacks, Trump maintained that Christians are mostly targeted. The Tinubu administration continues to emphasize that it is engaging global partners to strengthen Christian protection in Nigeria while also tackling insecurity within the country.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to debate the wisdom of spending such a huge sum on foreign lobbyists. Some argue that the funds should instead be channeled directly into solving the security challenges at home and improving Christian protection in Nigeria.
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