By Uchechi Okporie
United States Senator Ted Cruz has accused the Nigerian government of launching a multi-million-dollar lobbying campaign in Washington, D.C., to shift international attention away from ongoing violence against Christians and worsening insecurity across the country.
The allegation comes amid growing pressure from American lawmakers, who are demanding stronger action from Nigeria to address attacks by armed groups and improve the protection of religious minorities
.
According to Cruz, the administration of President Bola Tinubu chose to invest heavily in public relations efforts rather than directly confronting the security challenges that have claimed thousands of lives in recent years.
At the centre of the controversy is a reported $9 million contract awarded to DCI Group, a United States-based public affairs and lobbying firm. The agreement, reportedly signed on behalf of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, was intended to communicate the government’s security efforts to US policymakers.
Cruz criticised the move, arguing that it attempted to reduce international criticism instead of addressing the root causes of violence.
In a statement published on X, the senator said Nigerian authorities had created an environment that allowed attacks against Christians and other religious minorities to continue. He reiterated his support for legislation that would hold Nigerian officials accountable if they fail to protect vulnerable communities.
The debate has intensified after the US House of Representatives approved an amendment that could increase the withholding of certain forms of American assistance to Nigeria unless measurable progress is made in preventing violence and improving security.
Several US lawmakers have also questioned Nigeria’s decision to hire American lobbying firms, arguing that resources should instead be directed toward tackling insecurity and protecting civilians.
Meanwhile, the political controversy has widened within Nigeria after former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary Timi Frank accused the Presidency of misleading Nigerians over a reported diplomatic letter from US President Donald Trump.
Frank argued that the correspondence was a routine diplomatic communication recognising security cooperation between both countries rather than an endorsement of President Tinubu or his administration. He challenged the government to release the complete document to verify its authenticity.
He also questioned why the reported letter, allegedly dated earlier in July, only became public weeks later, suggesting that if it represented a significant endorsement, it would have been released immediately.
Frank further criticised
reports that Nigeria had spent millions of dollars on lobbying firms in the United States, insisting that governments with strong international credibility should rely on transparent leadership rather than expensive reputation management campaigns.
The developments have drawn renewed international attention to Nigeria’s security situation, particularly attacks affecting communities in several parts of the country. Human rights organisations and foreign governments continue to urge Nigerian authorities to strengthen security operations, improve accountability, and ensure the protection of all citizens regardless of religion.
As diplomatic and political pressure grows, the debate over Nigeria’s security strategy and international image is expected to remain a major issue in relations between Abuja and Washington.
