The administration of President Bola Tinubu has reportedly signed a $9 million lobbying deal with U.S.-based Republican-linked firm DCI Group in an effort to appease former President Donald Trump and prevent further military or diplomatic actions targeting Nigeria.

According to investigative reports, the contract—facilitated by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu through Kaduna’s Aster Legal—aims to demonstrate that Nigeria is actively addressing Christian community killings in the northern region and bolstering U.S.-Nigeria cooperation on security.

Key details of the deal:

• Total value: $9 million over six months ($750,000 per month)
• Initial tranche of $4.5 million paid December 12, 2025
• Remaining $4.5 million due July 2026
• Signed by Aster Legal’s Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim and DCI Group’s Justin Peterson, a known Trump ally

The lobbying initiative comes after Nigeria was redesignated by Trump as a “country of particular concern” due to rising attacks on Christians. Four days later, the U.S. imposed a partial travel ban affecting Nigerian visa applicants.

Tensions escalated with a U.S. airstrike in Sokoto State on December 25, 2025, targeting suspected insurgents, with Trump warning of further strikes if violence continued.

The Nigerian government also engaged other lobbying channels, including a $5,000 payment to U.S. attorney Johanna Blanc to draft correspondence inviting members of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee to visit Nigeria.

Security and foreign policy analysts have described the arrangement as a signal of urgency by the Tinubu administration to repair strained relations with the Trump White House and ensure Nigeria’s security concerns are clearly communicated.