The Nigerian government has engaged DCI Group, a Republican-connected public affairs firm, to help communicate its security actions to the United States, particularly efforts aimed at protecting Christian communities and combating jihadist groups destabilising West Africa.
The engagement is contained in a one-year agreement between DCI Group and Aster Legal, acting on behalf of Nigeria. The contract, signed on December 17, is valued at $9 million, with a monthly retainer of $750,000. Either party may terminate the agreement with 60 days’ written notice.
According to the contract, DCI Group will assist in shaping messaging around Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations and sustaining U.S. political support for actions against Islamist extremist groups operating in the region.
Trump Announces US Airstrikes in Nigeria
The development follows a Christmas Day announcement by Donald Trump, who disclosed that the United States had carried out airstrikes in Nigeria against Islamist terrorist groups.
Trump said the attacks were aimed at militants who “primarily” targeted “innocent Christians,” framing the operation as part of broader efforts to defend religious minorities and confront extremist violence in West Africa.
High-Profile GOP Figures Involved
DCI Group reportedly has nine staff members assigned to the Nigerian account, including managing member Justin Peterson and senior adviser Doug Davenport.
Peterson previously worked on the presidential campaigns of Elizabeth Dole and George W. Bush and was appointed by Trump as U.S. representative to the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.
Davenport has been involved in all three of Trump’s presidential campaigns and most recently served as convention team manager for the Republican Party’s 2024 convention session in Milwaukee.
Veteran Republican strategist Roger Stone is also consulting on the Nigerian engagement, according to disclosures related to the contract.
Strategic Push Amid Global Scrutiny
The move comes amid increasing international scrutiny of Nigeria’s handling of insecurity, religious violence, and counterterrorism operations. Analysts say the contract signals a strategic push by Abuja to shape opinion within U.S. political and policy circles as security cooperation between both countries deepens.
The agreement highlights how foreign governments increasingly rely on politically connected Washington firms to influence narratives, secure diplomatic backing, and protect strategic interests on Capitol Hill and within the White House.