A pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over reports that his administration committed $9 million to a United States–based Republican lobbying firm, describing the move as misplaced priority amid Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The group said the funds allegedly paid to influence the U.S. government could have been better utilised to confront the country’s escalating security challenges, which have resulted in widespread killings, kidnappings and the displacement of communities across the federation.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Olusola Badero, and issued through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the union accused President Tinubu of focusing more on foreign image management and political calculations than on the daily struggles of Nigerians.
According to the group, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government is allegedly spending public funds on foreign lobbyists in a bid to shape international perception ahead of the 2027 general elections, while citizens continue to face violent attacks, kidnappings and insecurity nationwide.
The organisation further alleged that the administration has continued to downplay the country’s security situation despite the widespread presence of terrorists and criminal groups across nearly all 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“Instead of confronting the real challenges facing Nigerians, the government is paying huge sums to foreign individuals to paint a false picture of security in the country,” the group said, adding that citizens are left vulnerable to daily violence without adequate protection or justice.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá also criticised what it described as the government’s approach of granting amnesty to terrorists while innocent Nigerians suffer the consequences of their actions.
The group said it was alarmed by a report by SaharaReporters alleging that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, facilitated the engagement of the U.S. lobbying firm, DCI Group, through a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal.
According to the report, the lobbying contract was aimed at convincing the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and American lawmakers that Nigeria is making tangible progress in addressing insecurity, particularly the killings of Christians in northern Nigeria.
The union referenced U.S. Department of Justice filings cited in the report, which indicated that an initial payment of $4.5 million was made to the lobbying firm on December 12, 2025, covering a six-month retainer, with another $4.5 million reportedly due by July 2026.
The group described the total $9 million contract—estimated at about $750,000 per month—as one of the most expensive lobbying deals ever entered into by an African government.
Questioning the rationale behind the expenditure, the union asked why scarce national resources were being used to lobby foreign governments when, it claimed, there is no clear political will or effective strategy to address insecurity, economic hardship and governance challenges at home.
The group condemned what it termed reckless and insensitive spending, urging Nigerians to demand accountability and transparency from the Tinubu administration.
It also called on the international community, including U.S. authorities, to investigate the alleged lobbying deal, stressing that the funds could have been channelled into strengthening security operations, supporting victims of terrorism, rebuilding affected communities and improving basic social services.
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá warned that continued neglect of citizens’ welfare and security could deepen public anger and further erode trust in government, urging the administration to prioritise the safety and well-being of Nigerians over international image management.
