By: Joy Musa
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government over an alleged $9 million public relations and lobbying contract awarded to a United States-based firm, DCI Group, describing it as “defective and deceptive.”
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the PDP said reports indicate that the Nigerian Government, through Aster Legal, engaged DCI Group to assist in “communicating its actions to protect Nigerian Christian communities.” The opposition party noted that the contract is reportedly for six months, with an automatic renewal for another six months.
The statement, signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the development was “disturbing and shameful,” particularly given the existence of a fully constituted Ministry of Information and numerous media aides within the current administration.
According to the PDP, the alleged contract suggests a lack of confidence by President Bola Tinubu in the Ministry of Information and government media team, despite what it described as their professional capacity and recent track record in managing government communications.
The party also raised a number of questions for the Presidency, including whether the contract was provided for in the 2025 federal budget, why it was executed through a private law firm rather than the Federal Ministry of Justice, and what roles Nigerian information and public relations officers in diplomatic missions abroad currently perform. It further demanded clarity on the key performance indicators guiding the contract.
The PDP warned that no lobbying or strategic communications firm could substitute for the “lived experiences of the people,” especially in an era of instant global information flow. It argued that improving Nigeria’s international image should be anchored on tangible improvements in security rather than what it termed “deceptive communication.”
“The undeniable truth is that Nigerians have not felt this insecure, even during the civil war,” the statement said, calling on the Federal Government to prioritise the protection of lives and property across the country.
The opposition party urged President Tinubu to focus on ensuring the safety of all Nigerians, regardless of religious affiliation, and to reduce incidents of mass killings, noting that genuine improvements in security would naturally improve the country’s global perception.
The PDP concluded by advising the administration to curb what it described as an appetite for “easy public validation through ephemeral optics” and instead address Nigeria’s “primary challenge insecurity.”
As of press time, the Presidency had not issued an official response to the allegations.
