The Federal Authorities is spending $750,000 month-to-month on a Republican-linked U.S. foyer agency to counter “Christian genocide” claims and curb separatist narratives amongst conservative and evangelical circles close to President Donald Trump.
UK-based Africa Confidential stories that Abuja’s lobbying adopted Trump’s November warning that the U.S. might intervene in Nigeria “weapons ablazing” over alleged mass killings of Christians.
The event sparked a high-stakes lobbying battle in Washington, with Nigeria’s authorities clashing with pro-Biafra {groups} over U.S. army cooperation, sanctions, and arms gross sales to Africa’s most populous nation.
In keeping with Africa Confidential, below the Bargain, DCI Group will foyer U.S. policymakers on visas, army cooperation, commerce, and tariffs, whereas selling Nigeria’s stance on defending Christians and Muslims and combating jihadist violence.
The deal dwarfs Biafran separatists’ effort, with BRGIE paying $66,000 month-to-month to Madison & Washington to push U.S. sanctions, recognition of Biafra, and potential army and oil assist.
Analysts cited by Africa Confidential argue that the separatist pitch glosses over key geopolitical realities. Oil-producing communities within the Niger Delta don’t determine with a landlocked future Biafra, weakening claims that such a state would management vital hydrocarbon belongings.
Professional-Biafra activists have cultivated these networks for many years, securing endorsements from senior Republican figures together with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. These connections are believed to have prompted Abuja and its allies to “splurge” on a top-tier lobbying agency aligned with Trump’s inside circle.
The Madison & Washington contract presents Nigeria as a state complicit in violence in opposition to Christians and argues {that a} pro-U.S. Biafran administration would higher serve American strategic pursuits, together with providing extra beneficial oil phrases to U.S. firms.
Critics say the narrative is selective. Separatist violence in Nigeria’s southeast has additionally claimed Christian lives, together with assaults by Christians in opposition to fellow Christians in the course of the enforcement of sit-at-home orders—particulars omitted from lobbying supplies
Chatting with Nairametrics, Dr. Dapo Ogunbode, an Worldwide Relations scholar on the College of Abuja, stated: “States interact {groups} or lobbyists for varied causes to advertise their overseas coverage goals. Within the U.S., a number of companies should register as overseas brokers in the event that they signify a overseas entity. In Nigeria, the system is slightly porous.”
The lobbying scramble coincides with intensified U.S.–Nigeria safety cooperation, highlighting how political narratives in Washington are more and more shaping army and diplomatic outcomes affecting Nigeria.
Following Trump’s November remarks, Nigeria’s Nationwide Safety Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, led pressing engagements in Washington with the U.S. Division of Protection and Trump-affiliated officers.
On November 20, Ribadu met U.S. Protection Secretary Peter Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, Common Dan Caine.
Between November and December, each nations established a Joint Working Group to speed up intelligence sharing and arms approvals.
U.S. air strikes on suspected jihadist targets in Sokoto and Zamfara—initially deliberate for December 24—have been reportedly shifted to Christmas Day at Trump’s insistence.
Nigeria has more and more relied on U.S. army assist to counter jihadist {groups} working within the north and northwest.
Tinubu’s administration has prioritised repairing strained safety relations with Washington following years of arms procurement delays.
Professional-Biafra lobbying efforts within the U.S. have intensified for the reason that re-emergence of Trump as a dominant pressure in Republican politics.
Abuja’s engagement with DCI Group underscores a broader technique to guard Nigeria’s worldwide picture, safeguard army help, and preserve diplomatic alignment with the USA.