Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has sharply criticized the Nigerian government's decision to hire a US-based lobbying firm, DCI Group, in a controversial $9 million contract aimed at communicating its efforts to protect Christian communities to the United States government.
The deal, facilitated through Kaduna-based Aster Legal on behalf of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and signed on December 17, 2025, involves monthly payments of $750,000. Nigeria has already paid an initial $4.5 million advance retainer, with the full amount potentially reaching $9 million over the contract period.
The stated goal is to highlight Nigeria's actions against jihadist groups and religiously motivated violence while maintaining US support for counterterrorism efforts.
Sowore, reacting to the development amid heightened US scrutiny under the Trump administration, including threats of intervention over alleged inaction on attacks against Christians described the move as unnecessary and telling of President Bola Tinubu's personal history.In a widely circulated statement, Sowore said:"Tinubu understands the USA very well. He lived there as a criminal selling drugs. He knows what they want. That's why he didn't speak publicly when they were harassing him. I'm sure they have a whole lot of dossiers on him that have kept him grounded."
Sowore's remarks suggest that Tinubu's cautious public approach to US pressure stems from alleged vulnerabilities related to his past in the United States, rather than strategic diplomacy.
The activist has long been a vocal critic of Tinubu and the current administration, framing the lobbying expenditure as a wasteful attempt to manage international perception instead of addressing root security issues domestically.
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