Nigeria Hires US Lobbying Firms Amid Trump’s Christian ‘Genocide’Claims. Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian billionaire Matthew Tonlagha has signed a contract with American lobbying firm Valcour to improve relations with Washington, according to documents reviewed by AFP on Monday. These efforts follow unsubstantiated accusations made by President Trump in late 2025, alleging that violence in Nigeria amounted to the “persecution “and “genocide “of Christians.
The Nigerian government and independent analysts reject this interpretation of the multiple overlapping conflicts affecting the country, a view long promoted by the American religious right. DCI’s officially declared role is to help the government in Abuja communicate about “its actions aimed at protecting Christian communities and (maintaining) U. S.
Support in the fight against West African jihadist groups and other destabilizing elements. S. Media, the Trump administration, and the U.
S. Congress “with the aim of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and Nigeria.”
The contract is published on a U.
S. Government platform where lobbyists are required to register their ties with foreign governments.
Last year, the U.
S. Military bombed areas in northwestern Nigeria, targeting fighters from the Islamic State group, members of the jihadist Lakurawa group, and gangs of “bandits.”
The Nigerian government later stated that the strikes were aimed at these groups.
However, local and international journalists have only confirmed damage to farmland and civilian buildings, as well as injuries among the civilian population. Valcour was founded in 2023 by Matt Mowers, who served as a White House adviser within the U. S.
State Department during Trump’s first term. Tonlagha is vice president of Tantita Security, a company specializing in the protection of oil facilities. Tantita is owned by Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, a former prominent leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
MEND was created to oppose the appropriation of local oil by foreign companies and the Nigerian government. Ekpemupolo later secured lucrative contracts with the Nigerian government to protect oil facilities. Further details are expected regarding the specifics of the lobbying strategy and its potential impact on U.
S. -Nigeria relations.
Source: [Nigeria hires US lobby firms amid Trump claims of christian ‘genocide’ — Africanews.
Com/2026/02/03/nigeria-hires-us-lobby-firms-amid-trump-claims-of-christian-genocide/ (africanews.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
