Nigeria hires lobbyists from the United States to strengthen relations with the Trump administration
Donald Trump. Credit line: Pool/ABACA / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Nigeria's government has hired a U.S.-based lobbying firm to strengthen relations with the Trump administration and counter what it says is misinformation from evangelical Christian groups and other actors that would undermine the authorities' efforts to protect Christians in the country, Reuters notes.
In November, US President Donald Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “country of particular interest”, warning that military action could follow if authorities in Abuja did not take firm action against the killing of Christians. The United States later launched an airstrike in Nigeria on Christmas Day that Trump said targeted Islamist militants.
Nigeria's government has said it is making sustained efforts to combat Islamist groups and other violent organizations, which have attacked both Muslim and Christian civilians, and rejects the idea of systematic persecution of Christians.
According to a document filed on December 18 with the US Department of Justice and published on the institution's website, the authorities in Abuja hired the consulting firm DCI Group, based in Washington, for an initial period of six months worth $4.5 million, with a similar amount to be paid for the next six months.
Nigeria's presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lobbying effort comes after the deadly US airstrike on Christmas Day
A DCI spokesperson confirmed the document, which appeared in the Nigerian media on Wednesday.
“We are happy to support the government of Nigeria in communicating its ongoing and expanding efforts to protect Christians and people of all faiths from radical jihadist groups and other destabilizing factors, as well as in strengthening trade and business relationships that benefit both countries,” the spokesperson said in an emailed response.
On its website, DCI describes itself as a team of “experienced political operatives” and “communications strategists”, as well as “experts in reframing external narratives and delivering the right message to the right audience”.
Nigeria has been grappling for years with an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, armed gangs specializing in kidnappings in the northwest and clashes between mostly Muslim cattle herders and mainly Christian farmers in an unstable area that straddles the west African state's center.
Trump said the Christmas Day attack killed several Islamic State militants, who he said were targeting Christian communities. And in an interview with the New York Times, published last week, he raised the possibility of new strikes.
In a sign of cooperation between Washington and Abuja, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced on Tuesday that it has delivered essential military equipment to Nigeria to strengthen its operational capabilities.
