US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial’

United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religiousfreedom in Nigeria during a hearing on the topic on Wednesday in Washington DC. The hearing examined countries worldwide where the lawmakerssay religious freedom is under threat, a characterisation Nigerian authoritieshave rejected. Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field ofdefenceless Christians”. “That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with thePresident’s CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action,” Smithsaid. While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “smallsteps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying dealsaimed at influencing the US government. In December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a$9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protectChristians to the US government. The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of TantitaSecurity Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-basedlobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship”between the US and Nigeria. Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial byNigerian officials persists”. “I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Streetlobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and aNigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcourto influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said. “They hire these firms; they come up with their verywell-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, howthese firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religiousfreedom.” Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, questioned the effectiveness ofthe US strikes in Nigeria last year. He accused the President Donald Trump administration ofstriking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance thatwould actually address discrimination against religious communities”. The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, withsome describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences,while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.

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