Security experts and public affairs analysts have raised concerns over the Federal Government’s reported $9 million lobbying contract in the United States, warning that the deal could undermine Nigeria’s national security, sovereignty, and credibility in addressing insecurity.
A criminologist and security expert at the Federal University, Dutse, Dr Sulaiman Ishak Muhamad, said the contract—reportedly signed on December 17, 2025, through a Kaduna-based legal firm on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser—was aimed at countering claims that Christian communities in Nigeria are neglected or unsafe. The agreement is said to involve a six-month engagement with US-based lobbying firm DCI Group.
Dr Muhamad noted that while the initiative could improve Nigeria’s international image and diplomatic standing, it also carries significant risks. He warned that exposing internal security strategies to foreign interests could weaken Nigeria’s independence and invite political or economic pressure from powerful nations with strategic interests in the country.
He argued that external intervention under humanitarian or religious narratives has historically destabilised weaker nations, adding that Nigeria’s diversity makes it vulnerable to narratives that could inflame internal divisions. “Once global powers begin to raise red flags against a country, they rarely stop,” he said, cautioning that such pressure could erode national security over time.
Similarly, security analyst Abdullahi Bokaji Adamu criticised the deal, describing it as a misplaced response to Nigeria’s insecurity challenges. He said lobbying abroad cannot substitute for concrete action at home, stressing that insecurity in Nigeria cuts across religious and ethnic lines and is driven by terrorism, banditry, weak policing and governance failures.
“You cannot fix insecurity with public relations,” Adamu said, adding that Nigeria’s credibility internationally depends on measurable improvements in civilian protection, intelligence coordination and accountability, not expensive lobbying contracts.
Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu also faulted the reported agreement, describing it as an admission of failure by the government. He questioned the justification for spending billions of naira on consultancy at a time of widespread economic hardship and insecurity.
Shehu argued that the funds could have been channelled into job creation and economic support for citizens, while also alleging that the contract reflected poor judgment and misplaced priorities. “If real work was being done on the ground, there would be no need for panic diplomacy,” he said.
The Federal Government has yet to issue a detailed public response to the criticisms, as debate continues over whether international lobbying can meaningfully address Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
