President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing a fresh criticism from his home region as a prominent pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has condemned the federal government’s decision to commit $9 million to a United States-based lobbying firm.
The group described the expenditure as a “reckless” waste of national resources at a time when Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented levels of killings, kidnappings, and economic hardship.
Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Nigerian government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, engaged the DCI Group, a Republican-linked firm in Washington.
The contract, reportedly facilitated by a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal, aims to manage the administration’s image in the U.S. and persuade the government of President Donald Trump that Nigeria is effectively protecting Christian communities and fighting jihadist elements.
In a strongly-worded statement signed by its Convener, Olusola Badero, and released through Home Director Princess Balogun, the Yoruba group alleged that the administration is more focused on “foreign image laundering” and “second-term political calculations” than the safety of its citizens.
The group argued that the $9 million which is equivalent to roughly $750,000 per month could have been better utilized to equip security agencies or rebuild communities ravaged by terrorists.
According to filings with the U.S. Department of Justice, an initial payment of $4.5 million was reportedly made on December 12, 2025, with another installment due by July 2026.
“Instead of addressing the real issues confronting the country, the Tinubu government is busy paying foreign individuals huge sums of money to tell lies about Nigeria’s security situation,” the statement read.
“Meanwhile, Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped and attacked every day without protection or justice.”
The group expressed dismay over what it described as a “pretense” of security by the presidency. They pointed out that criminal groups continue to operate freely across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The union also criticized the government’s policy of granting amnesty to “terrorists who have killed, kidnapped and collected ransom from helpless Nigerians.”
Questioning the rationale behind the expensive contract, the group asked: “Why is Tinubu wasting citizens’ resources to appease President Donald Trump, when he knows very well that his government has a poor record in security, the economy and the political will required to crush terrorists?”
The group further highlighted the dire state of the nation’s infrastructure, noting that “our schools and hospitals are in terrible, dilapidated conditions” while millions of children remain out of school due to the prevailing insecurity.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá has called on the international community and U.S. authorities to investigate the lobbying deal.
They urged Nigerians to hold the President accountable for “squandering public funds on frivolous and non-essential activities” while the domestic situation remains volatile.
The union maintained that local security operations and victims of terrorism should be the priority of any responsible government, rather than seeking validation from foreign lobbyists who “have nothing meaningful to contribute to the lives of Nigerians.”