The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the federal government’s decision to spend $9 million on a public relations campaign in the United States, describing it as a misallocation of resources while Nigeria faces deepening security and economic crises.
The development follows media reports that the federal government hired Kaduna-based law firm Aster Legal to engage DCI Group, a US lobbying firm, to communicate its efforts in protecting Christians in Nigeria to the United States government.
The lobbying contract was filed reportedly with the US Department of Justice on behalf of National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
In a statement on Wednesday, January 14, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi condemned the decision, saying it prioritised image management over urgent domestic challenges.
“The African Democratic Congress, ADC, condemns the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for deploying scarce public resources to launder its battered image abroad instead of addressing the deepening security and economic crises at home, as reported in recent disclosures on the federal government’s $9 million lobbying contract in the United States,” Abdullahi stated.
He said the expenditure was unprecedented and morally indefensible, given the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
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“No government in Africa has ever committed such an obscene sum to a short-term public relations exercise.
“While the ADC recognises the importance of representing Nigeria’s interests internationally, spending $9 million on image management at a time when millions of Nigerians cannot afford food, fuel, or basic healthcare is a clear case of misplaced priorities and moral blindness,” he said.
The ADC also interpreted the move as an admission of diplomatic failure, noting the government’s key ambassadorial posts remain vacant.
“This decision is also an admission of diplomatic failure. A government that has left key ambassadorial positions vacant now seeks to outsource diplomacy to lobbyists, further weakening Nigeria’s institutional credibility and reducing foreign policy to transactional propaganda,” the statement added.
The party urged the government to prioritise domestic security, economic stability, and social welfare over spending millions on managing perceptions abroad.