A recent congressional hearing in the United States, focusing on global religious freedom, criticized Nigeria’s reported $9 million lobbying agreement in Washington. Lawmakers expressed concern that this deal appears to undermine critical human rights and religious freedom issues.
The topic emerged during a joint session of the House Subcommittee on Africa and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, titled “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World.”
The hearing included testimonies from former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and the former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Dr. Stephen Schneck.
Chairman Chris Smith of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee defended the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act, describing the decision as “long overdue,” given the ongoing violence affecting Christian communities.
Smith expressed apprehension about lobbying efforts aimed at counteracting this designation. “I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the lobbying firm, DCI Group, to the tune of $9 million—$750,000 a month,” he stated.
He also noted a separate contract valued at $120,000 per month between a wealthy Nigerian and the Washington-based consulting firm Valcour, intended to influence the US Congress and Executive Branch.
“They hire these firms, produce polished talking points, and try to suggest there’s nothing to see here,” Smith criticized, pointing out efforts to minimize scrutiny of Nigeria’s religious freedom record.
However, Ranking Member Sara Jacobs warned against framing Nigeria’s crisis solely as Christian persecution. She noted that the US has cut hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid to Nigeria, including programs that support faith leaders and communities affected by violence.
Jacobs referred to the cancellation of the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace program, which had reportedly helped mitigate violence in certain areas. “The violence in Nigeria is complex. It affects both Christians and Muslims, and its causes cannot be reduced to a single narrative,” she cautioned, emphasizing that oversimplification could worsen tensions.
She also questioned the effectiveness of recent US military operations in Sokoto State, arguing that they have not significantly enhanced security for the communities involved.
Schneck echoed these concerns, suggesting that the cost of military actions may have exceeded funds previously allocated to interfaith and humanitarian programs. He warned that such military interventions could unintentionally empower militant groups by driving them closer together.
In a broader context, Schneck characterized the security situation in Nigeria as featuring a complex mix of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, organized crime, and mass displacement, all exacerbated by weak governance.
Lawmakers debated whether the CPC designation for Nigeria was effective on its own. Representative Jefferson Shreve raised questions about its impact, to which Brownback responded that the label must be supported by sanctions and enforcement measures. “Until you put some bite into it, these governments will just ignore it,” Brownback argued, advocating for targeted sanctions such as Magnitsky penalties.
While some lawmakers asserted that US actions had rekindled focus on Nigeria, Brownback expressed skepticism regarding the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
US President Donald Trump has frequently asserted that Christians in Nigeria face genocide—an allegation the Nigerian government rejects, claiming that while the country faces serious security challenges, there is no genocide.
In January, filings disclosed that Nigeria had entered into a $9 million contract with the US-based lobbying firm DCI Group to promote initiatives supporting religious communities. This agreement, signed in December 2025, was reportedly facilitated through Kaduna-based Aster Legal on behalf of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
Additionally, documents revealed that billionaire Matthew Tonlagha signed a six-month, $120,000 monthly lobbying agreement with Valcour to engage US lawmakers, media, and the Trump administration in enhancing US–Nigeria relations.
