Another Nigerian has enlisted a United States (U.S) lobbyist in a $720,000 deal designed to influence policy and perception in Washington, D.C.
The contract, recently disclosed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), aims to facilitate smoother communication between Nigeria and the U.S and ensure that Nigerian interests are prioritized within the halls of the U.S. Congress.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the Nigerian national who enlisted the U.S lobbyist is identified as Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services.
According to the document filed with the U.S Department of Justice, Tonlagha, through his company, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a global public strategy firm specialising in shaping public policy, political opinion, and media.
The contract was signed by Tonlagha and Matt Mowers, the president of the lobbying firm, on December 16, 2025.
Checks by this digital newspaper revealed that Mowers served as a senior White House advisor in the U.S Department of State during the first term of President Donald Trump. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Based on the contract details, the lobbying firm is expected to “provide consulting services for strategic communications & government affairs with US media and government officials, including the US Congress and Executive Branches, for the purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the US and Nigeria.”
The contract was agreed to take effect from December 15, 2025, to June 14, 2026. The Nigerian engineering company is expected to pay $120,000 per month to the lobbying firm, “payable quarterly in advance by check or wire transfer”.
Prior to the registration of the contract, the Nigerian company, on December 31, 2025, paid $105,000 for a “monthly retainer for subcontractor services” to Bridgeway Advocacy.
The sum of $60,000 was paid to Mount Olives LLC on January 5, 2026, for “monthly retainer for subcontractor services”.
Part of the contract details reads: “THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), executed this 3rd Day of December 2025, by and between Valcour,
LLC, a Limited Liability Company with offices at 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 640, Washington, DC 20004 (“CONSULTANT”), and Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, a Limited Liability Company with offices at No. 1 Matthew Tonlagha Close, Effurun-Sapele Road, Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria (“CLIENT”).
In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein, and intending to be bound hereby, CONSULTANT and CLIENT agree to the following terms:
1. CONSULTANTS’s Services
CLIENT does hereby retain CONSULTANT to provide consulting services for strategic communications & government affairs with US Media and government officials, including the U.S. Congress and Executive Branches, for the purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Nigeria, according to the terms set forth in this agreement.
2. Term of Contract
This agreement will be in effect from, December 15, 2025 through June 14,2026 (the “Term”). The effect of this contract shall begin upon signature of this contract and receipt of initial three-month retainer payment, due upon signing. This agreement may be terminated by either party, after the first 90 days, with 30 days written notice being provided to the other party. Any fees and or expenses due at the time of termination shall be paid promptly. Upon completion of the Term, and in the event that the CLIENT and CONSULTANT
desire to maintain or renew their business relationship, they may do so only by mutual agreement signed by both parties.
3. Fees
In return for the performance of the services to be provided to CLIENT by CONSULTANT, CLIENT agrees to pay CONSULTANT a fee of $120,000 per month, payable quarterly in advance by check or wire transfer.
Initial quarterly payment is due upon signing, with future quarterly payments due no later than 10 days after receipt of invoice. In addition, CLIENT agrees to reimburse CONSULTANT for all necessary expenses, expenses over $500 will require pre-approval from CLIENT before they are incurred. All invoices to CLIENT will detail any expenses, which will be invoiced at cost. If services provided to CLIENT by CONSULTANT require airline travel, CLIENT agrees that CONSULTANT will utilize business-class airfare or private transportation, with pre-approval from CLIENT. Travel expenses will be wired for payment in advance, based on pre-approved estimates by CLIENT.
CLIENT shall be responsible for all sales, use and excise taxes, and any other similar taxes, duties and charges of any kind imposed by any federal, state or local governmental entity on any amounts payable by CLIENT hereunder; provided, that, in no event shall CLIENT pay or be responsible for any taxes imposed on, or regarding, CONSULTANT’S income, revenues, gross receipts, personnel, or real or personal property or other assets.”
Further review also revealed that the Nigerian nationals enlisted the U.S lobbyist twenty-four hours before the federal government hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract deal to assist in communicating its actions on protecting Christians in Nigeria to the United States government.
Aster Legal, a law firm in Kaduna state, hired the services of DCI Group on behalf of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA).
The lobbying contracts indicate the desire of the Nigerian government to relate well with the U.S government amid the conversation of Christian genocide.
WHO IS MATTHEW TONLAGHA?
It was gathered that Tonlagha hails from Benikrukru, Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Delta state.
He is the vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, a company awarded the contract for oil pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta area.
Government Ekpemupolo, a former militant known as Tompolo, is the chairperson of the oil pipeline surveillance company.
Tonlagha is the chairman of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited.
According to the information on the company’s website, Maton Engineering is a “multidisciplinary engineering and project support company dedicated to powering the oil & gas industry with reliable, end-to-end solutions.”
