The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government over the reported engagement of a United States-based lobbying firm, DCI Group, under a $9 million contract to boost Nigeria’s international image.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 14, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the deal as “defective, deceptive, and shameful,” arguing that the Tinubu administration should not be outsourcing image management while running a full Ministry of Information and an army of media aides.
“This revelation is as disturbing as it is shameful that a government with a full Ministry of Information and a litany of media aides will be paying a foreign firm to launder its image,” Ememobong said.
“This is a clear indication that the President does not have confidence in the Ministry of Information and his media aides.”
The party’s reaction followed reports based on filings with the US Department of Justice. The filings indicate that Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm, contracted DCI Group on behalf of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
The deal is said to run for six months and automatically renew for another six months, with a mandate focused on “assisting the Nigerian government in communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities.”
PDP, however, questioned the basis and transparency of the arrangement and demanded answers from the Presidency.
“We seek clarification from the Presidency on the following: Was this contract budgeted for in the 2025 budget? Why was it done through a private law firm and not the Federal Ministry of Justice?
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“What are the duties of the Information and Public Relations officers in diplomatic missions abroad? And what are the Key Performance Indicators for this contract?” Ememobong queried.
The opposition party also argued that Nigeria’s global standing cannot be repaired through public relations without improvements on the ground.
“No lobbying or strategic communication firm can create narratives that will replace the lived experiences of the people,” the statement noted.
“If the Tinubu administration is desirous of changing the perception of the country abroad, it should invest more in the security of lives and property, not in deceptive communication.”
Ememobong accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of chasing “easy public validation through ephemeral optics,” and urged President Tinubu to prioritise security and the protection of citizens regardless of religion.
“The President should be more interested in ensuring that all Nigerians, irrespective of religion, are safe and free to worship God in their chosen way, and that mass killings are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
“When these feats are achieved, Nigerians will reflect safety, and that will concomitantly dictate the global perception of Nigerians.”
The PDP ended by calling on the government to “concentrate on the hard task of providing sustainable solutions to the nation’s primary challenge — insecurity.”