A United States lawmaker Chris Smith has lashed out at the Nigerian government’s $9 million lobbying deal with a Washington-based firm.
The contract, intended to polish the country’s international image and counter allegations of religious persecution, has sparked a firestorm of criticism both in the United States and within Nigeria’s own borders.
Smith who also doubles as House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described the Nigerian government’s $9m lobbying deal as a wrong step.
The lawmaker made this known when United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religious freedom in Nigeria during a hearing in Washington DC.
While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals aimed at influencing the US government.
Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists”.
“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.
“They hire these firms; they come up with their very well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious freedom.”
Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, also questioned the effectiveness of the U.S strikes in Nigeria last year.
He accused the U.S President Donald Trump administration of striking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance that would actually address discrimination against religious communities”.
The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, with some describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences, while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the criticism comes after Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect Christians to the U.S 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 conversation bordering on Christian genocide.
Recently, an indication emerged that also in December 2025, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the U.S and Nigeria.
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.
