Why would a country battling mass displacement, violent insurgency, and communal killings spend $9 million lobbying Washington—instead of rebuilding shattered lives at home?
In this hard-hitting episode of The Other Side, Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum examines the controversial decision by the Nigerian government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to hire a U.S. lobbying firm to counter claims that Christians are being targeted and killed in Nigeria because of their faith. The contract, filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), reveals a sophisticated international effort not to investigate violence—but to manage its narrative abroad.
At today’s exchange rates, that $9 million translates to ₦12.7–₦13.2 billion. The lobbying firm, DCI Group AZLSC, working alongside Astralega Nigeria, was engaged by the Nigerian government through the Office of the National Security Adviser. Its mandate is clear: persuade U.S. policymakers, institutions, and influencers that Nigeria is effectively protecting Christian communities and that allegations of religiously targeted violence are exaggerated or false.
But what is the reality on the ground?
For over two decades, large swathes of Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa, and parts of Borno have witnessed repeated attacks on Christian communities—burned churches, razed homes, mass killings, abductions, and large-scale displacement. Yet, as this episode interrogates, the Nigerian government has produced no comprehensive, credible, or transparent data to disprove claims that religion plays a central role in these attacks.
Community leaders, church officials, and survivors consistently report patterns that raise uncomfortable questions: churches destroyed while nearby mosques remain untouched; attackers shouting religious war chants; public threats linking violence to political or religious demands. In one documented instance referenced in this episode, a militant leader openly warned that killings would continue unless political concessions were made.
International observers have taken note. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended Nigeria for designation as a Country of Particular Concern, triggering heightened scrutiny from the U.S. Congress. Several American lawmakers who visited Nigeria reported witnessing dire conditions firsthand—contradicting official denials issued from Abuja.
Even more striking is the contradiction exposed in this episode: while Nigerian authorities dismiss religious motivations, jihadist groups themselves—including ISWAP-linked and Al-Qaeda-aligned networks—have publicly claimed responsibility for attacks on Christian communities, explicitly framing them as part of a religious campaign.
Global watchdogs have also weighed in. According to Open Doors 2026, Nigeria accounted for 72% of all Christians killed worldwide for their faith, with 3,490 out of 4,849 global deaths occurring in Nigeria. More Christians were reportedly killed in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined.
So the question The Other Side asks is unavoidable:
Why spend billions of naira trying to convince Americans, instead of establishing a credible, independent, multi-faith investigation at home?
Rimamnde Shawulu argues that even a fraction of the lobbying budget could have funded nationwide fact-finding, public hearings by the National Assembly, or the resettlement of tens of thousands of displaced families. By conservative estimates discussed in this episode, ₦13 billion could have supported over 90,000 displaced households, restoring dignity and stability to nearly half a million Nigerians.
Instead, Nigeria risks global reputational damage, deeper domestic distrust, and the perception of state complicity through denial. In an age of open-source intelligence and global transparency, narratives cannot override evidence.
This episode is not just about lobbying or foreign policy. It is about governance, accountability, and moral priorities. Should Nigeria explain itself abroad—or rebuild lives at home?
Watch, reflect, and join the conversation.
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