By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into a $9 million contract with a Washington-based lobbying firm, DCI Group, to influence the U.S. government’s perception of Nigeria’s efforts to protect its Christian communities.

The agreement, signed since last year is facilitated by the Kaduna-based law firm Aster Legal on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. Documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, first reported by TheCable, outline the contract’s scope and financial terms.

Under the deal, DCI Group is tasked with assisting the Nigerian government in “communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining U.S. support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements.”

The contract stipulates a monthly fee of $750,000, totaling $9 million over a 12-month period. It commenced with an initial six-month term ending June 30, 2026, and includes a clause for automatic renewal for another six months. Records show Nigeria made an upfront payment of $4.5 million on December 12, 2025, covering the first half of the contract. A second installment is due upon completion of the initial term.

The agreement allows either party to terminate “for any reason without penalty” by providing 60 days’ written notice.

This lobbying initiative follows heightened diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Washington over allegations of religious persecution.

In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing violence against Christians. Nigerian officials have consistently refuted these claims, attributing the nation’s violence to terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts rather than religious targeting.

Pressure escalated in November when Trump suggested the U.S. might intervene more directly, warning of potential military action to protect Christians. The situation intensified on Christmas Day, when the U.S. military conducted airstrikes against terrorist targets in Sokoto State’s Bauni Forest a move signaling deeper U.S. involvement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations.

In response to the U.S. designation, the Nigerian government had previously committed to engaging Washington “through diplomatic and legal channels” to address what it describes as misconceptions regarding the safety of Christian communities.

Yakubu Mohammed, a co-founder of Newswatch magazine and its former deputy chief executive officer, has died at the age of 75.

He was reported to have been battling an undisclosed ailment before his death. As of press time, an official statement from his family was still awaited.

His death comes barely two months after the passing of his long-time colleague and fellow Newswatch co-founder, Dan Agbese, who died after a prolonged illness on November 17, 2025.

Vanguard

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that farmers are actively involved in policy decisions aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening national food security.

The Manager, Research, Data and Impact Assessment at the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Mr. Eniola Akindele, stated this during the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains for Growth Programme (AGROW) Agroecological Zonal Workshop held in Kano.

Akindele said the current administration is prioritising farmer-driven, market-oriented and results-based agricultural interventions, stressing that policies must respond to realities on the ground rather than follow a top-down approach.

According to him, AGROW focuses on strategic value chains including rice, wheat, tomato, sesame and sorghum, which are critical to Nigeria’s food security and economic development.

He explained that AGROW is a $500 million homegrown initiative led by Nigeria, co-created across the three tiers of government, and shaped in partnership with the private sector and development partners, with technical support from the World Bank.

Akindele noted that past agricultural programmes were hindered by fragmented public spending, blanket input subsidies, government-driven implementation models, opaque land administration systems and multiple informal trade levies.

He said the AGROW framework introduces a new approach centred on state-level agricultural support, financial incentives tied to market outcomes and targeted public investment. Other pillars include institutionalised private sector engagement, transparent and secure land administration, as well as efficient and predictable interstate agricultural trade.

The PFSCU official added that the programme is built on three major components: strengthening private sector linkages with smallholder farmers, modernising on-farm production systems, and effective project coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
He further outlined eligibility requirements for states seeking to participate in AGROW, including sustainable land-based investment processes, digital farmer registries, increased transparency in fees and levies for interstate trade, reduced reliance on input subsidies and stronger support for agricultural cooperatives.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Bashir Sunusi, said the workshop aligns with the Kano State Government’s agenda to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food systems.

He disclosed that the state government has recruited 1,038 agricultural extension workers, provided farming equipment such as tractors and power tillers, and established three mechanisation centres in Gaya, Dambatta and Kadawa.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from Sudan Savannah agroecological states of Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.