$10.2M Lobbying Costs Could Fund Nigerian Businesses

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku have collectively spent over $10.2 million on lobbying activities in the United States. Tinubu's camp engaged the Washington-based DCI Group from December 2025, with a monthly retainer of $750,000 and an initial six-month contract worth $4.5 million, which could total $9 million due to an automatic renewal clause.

The first payment of $4.5 million was made upfront. The purpose of this expenditure was to communicate Nigeria's actions to US policymakers, particularly regarding the protection of Christian communities.

Separately, Atiku contracted a firm for $1.2 million in 2026 to enhance his standing in US policy circles. The combined lobbying costs, at an exchange rate of N1,400 to the dollar, equate to approximately N14.28 billion, which could support tens of thousands of micro-enterprises in Nigeria.

Economic experts criticized this spending as a waste of resources, emphasizing the need for transparency in government expenditures.