The Federal Government has engaged a United States lobbying firm in a $9 million contract to help communicate its efforts at protecting Christians in Nigeria to the U.S. government.
Documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice show that Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm, hired DCI Group on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. DCI Group is a U.S. public affairs and lobbying firm.
The agreement, signed on December 17, 2025, by Aster Legal’s Managing Partner, Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, and DCI Group’s Managing Member, Justin Peterson, is initially for six months, running until June 30, 2026, with an automatic six-month renewal.
Under the contract, DCI Group is to “assist the Nigerian government through Aster Legal in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining U.S. support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements.”
The deal allows either party to terminate the agreement without penalty by giving 60 days’ written notice.
On December 12, Nigeria paid DCI Group $4.5 million as a six-month retainer. The contract states that the firm will receive a monthly retainer of $750,000, paid in two six-month installments of $4.5 million each.
The engagement comes amid heightened U.S. scrutiny over reports of killings of Christians in Nigeria. In October, President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over allegations of a Christian genocide, claims the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied.
In November, Trump also warned of possible military action against terrorists in Nigeria. On Christmas Day, the U.S. carried out airstrikes on two terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
