By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has reportedly engaged the services of a Washington-based lobbying firm, DCI Group, in a $9 million contract aimed at communicating its efforts to protect Christians in Nigeria to the United States government.

According to The Africa Report, the amount appears to be a record for African lobbying in the US capital, citing documents filed with the US Department of Justice by Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm, acting on behalf of National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.

The agreement, signed on December 17, 2025, between Mr Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim, Managing Partner of Aster Legal, and Mr Justin Peterson, Managing Member of DCI Group, authorises the US firm to assist the Nigerian government “in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities and maintaining US support in countering West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements.”

Under the terms of the contract, DCI Group will receive $750,000 monthly, amounting to $9 million over 12 months. The deal runs initially for six months, until June 30, 2026, with an automatic renewal clause for another six-month period.

A clause in the agreement also allowed either party to terminate the deal “for any reason without penalty” by giving 60 days’ advance written notice.

It was reported that on December 12, 2025, Nigeria paid DCI Group 50 per cent or $4.5 million prepayment covering the first six months of the retainership agreement. A second installment is due at the end of the initial contract period.

This comes amid recent threats by US President Donald Trump to invade the country after its redesignation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged attacks against Christian communities. However, the Nigerian government has repeatedly denied claims of a Christian genocide, insisting that violence in the country affects all regardless of their affiliations.

Following an engagement late last year, the federal government pledged to “engage with the American government through diplomatic and legal channels” to address the allegations. Since late November, the US has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria.

On Christmas Day, the US military launched airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) terrorist enclaves in Bauni Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, marking a significant escalation in US counterterrorism involvement in Nigeria.

On Tuesday, the US delivered critical military supplies to Nigeria to bolster the country’s operations, the US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria would co-host Investopia with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Lagos in February, an initiative aimed at attracting global investors and accelerating sustainable investment inflows.

President Tinubu made this announcement on the sidelines of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), where Nigeria also concluded a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE to deepen trade and cooperation in renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, and digital trade.

“We warmly invite our partners to join us and help build the next chapter of sustainable and shared prosperity for Nigeria, Africa, and the world, ” President Tinubu said.

He described CEPA as a historic and strategic agreement that will also enhance cooperation in aviation, logistics, agriculture, and climate-smart infrastructure, creating enduring opportunities for the people of the two countries, stating that Investopia will bring together investors, innovators, policymakers, and business leaders to transform opportunities into commitment and ideas into investment.

Mr Tinubu told the summit that Nigeria aims to mobilise up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance as it accelerates energy transition reforms and expands nationwide electricity access.

“The foundation of every modern economy is electricity. As an emerging economy in the Global South, we understand the delicate balance between industrialisation and decarbonisation, ensuring neither is pursued at the expense of the other.

”We are calling for a fundamental shift in the global financial architecture: a move away from the restrictive requirement of sovereign guarantees, which unfairly penalise developing economies.

”Instead, the focus should be on blended finance and first-loss capital mechanisms that allow private sustainable capital flows directly into our green projects without further straining national balance sheets,” he said.

According to President Tinubu, Nigeria has strengthened its climate governance framework with the adoption of a National Carbon Market Activation Policy and the launch of a National Carbon Registry.

He explained that these measures are aimed at improving transparency and investor confidence.

Mr Tinubu highlighted the Electricity Act 2023 as a central pillar of Nigeria’s energy reforms, noting that it enables decentralised power generation and distribution to underserved communities.

He added that Nigeria’s climate investment drive includes a $500 million distributed renewable energy fund backed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, as well as a $750 million World Bank programme expected to expand clean electricity access to more than 17.5 million people.

President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s target of net-zero emissions by 2060, under its Energy Transition Plan, while pursuing industrial growth and universal energy access.

He invited foreign investors to partner in Nigeria’s lithium and critical minerals sector, stressing that the government prioritises local processing and value addition.

President Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms are producing tangible results, including a 21 per cent growth in non-oil exports.

”These reforms, alongside wider fiscal and monetary measures, are delivering results. Non-oil exports have grown by 21 per cent, supported by a more diversified product base. Capital importation has risen, and Nigeria now has over 50 billion dollars in investment commitments across key sectors.

”We are ready to work with partners across the world to ensure that the next era of development is not only green and inclusive, but just and enduring,” he said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The governments of Nigeria and Turkey have agreed to collaborate on enhancing bilateral relations, with a focus on visa facilitation, business mobility, and consular matters.

The agreement followed a meeting in Abuja between the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Mehmet Poroy, during a courtesy visit.

Mr Tunji-Ojo highlighted the strong historical and cultural ties between the two countries and Nigeria’s commitment to a “smart, structured, and practical approach to international cooperation” that promotes people-to-people contact and legitimate business engagement.

“These ties provide a solid foundation for deeper collaboration,” he said.

Ambassador Poroy provided updates on improved visa facilitation for Nigerian businessmen traveling to Turkey, noting that “under the new arrangement, applications are processed locally, allowing verified businesspersons to benefit from faster processing timelines of about three to four days.”

He also raised concerns about Turkish businesspeople facing challenges when visiting Nigeria for trade fairs and investments, citing conflicting information about Nigerian visa arrangements. “We request written clarification to guide applicants accurately,” Poroy said.

A key proposal during the meeting was the inclusion of Turkey in Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-visa) system.

“The absence of a Nigerian visa office in Istanbul creates logistical challenges,” the Ambassador explained, adding that, “Including Turkey in the e-visa regime would significantly enhance business mobility for Turkish nationals.”

In response, Mr Tunji-Ojo assured that “denying visas to genuine Nigerian or Turkish businesspeople is not in the interest of either country.”

He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to “transparency, dialogue, and continuous improvement in visa administration,” stressing Nigeria’s openness to legitimate investors and international business partners.

The discussion also addressed recognition of Nigerian marriage certificates by foreign missions. The Minister clarified that “all marriage certificates issued under Nigerian law are constitutionally valid and should not require additional verification.”

The Turkish Ambassador acknowledged the concern and committed to reviewing embassy procedures, as both parties agreed on the importance of continued engagement to strengthen bilateral cooperation.