The Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the Federal Government's $9 million public relations and lobbying contract with a US firm, calling it deceptive and embarrassing. The deal aims to highlight Nigeria's efforts to protect Christian communities amid alleged genocide claims. PDP demands clarifications on its funding and execution.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a $9 million lobbying agreement with the US-based firm DCI Group, facilitated through Aster Legal. The contract, which runs for six months with an automatic renewal for another six, is intended to assist in communicating the government's actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities, particularly in response to allegations of genocide.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the arrangement, describing it as defective, deceptive, and embarrassing. In a statement issued on January 13, 2026, PDP National Publicity Secretary Comrade Ini Ememobong questioned why the government, which has a fully fledged Ministry of Information led by seasoned professionals, would engage a foreign firm for image management abroad. "The revelation is as disturbing as it is shameful," Ememobong said, noting the ministry's recent maturity in handling government information.
PDP demanded answers from the Presidency on key issues: whether the contract is included in the 2025 budget, why it was executed through a private law firm instead of the Ministry of Justice, the roles of information officers in Nigeria's diplomatic missions, and the contract's key performance indicators.
Ememobong argued that no foreign lobbying firm can replace the lived experiences of Nigerians in an era of instant global information. He urged the administration under President Bola Tinubu to prioritize investments in security rather than "deceptive communication." "The undeniable truth is that Nigerians have not felt this insecure, even during the civil war," he stated, calling for enhanced protection of lives, freedom of worship, and reduction in mass killings. PDP emphasized that genuine security improvements would naturally improve Nigeria's global image, advising against seeking "easy public validation through ephemeral optics."
The opposition party called on the President to focus on sustainable solutions to the nation's worsening insecurity, which it identified as the foremost challenge.
