US senator Ted Cruz faults Nigeria’s lobbying campaign over insecurity concerns

United States Senator Ted Cruz has criticised the Nigerian government’s decision to engage a Washington-based lobbying firm, saying the move amounted to a public relations campaign rather than a meaningful response to concerns over insecurity and attacks on Christians in the country.

Cruz who has previously accused Nigerian officials of being complicit in the ongoing security crisis, made the remarks while reacting to recent actions by the US Congress aimed at increasing pressure on Nigeria to address persistent violence and religious persecution.

According to the senator, Nigerian officials have focused on improving the country’s image in Washington instead of tackling the underlying security challenges that have drawn international attention.

“Nigerian officials have created an environment that facilitates mass violence against Christians and religious minorities by imposing blasphemy and Sharia laws and looking the other way at jihadist atrocities,” Cruz wrote in a post on X.

He added that rather than responding to concerns raised by the United States, Nigerian authorities launched what he described as a public relations effort to counter criticism.

“The U.S. government knows the Nigerian officials responsible for these policies. I have been pushing my bill to sanction them, and President Trump has even ordered military action. Instead of responding to American concerns, Nigerian officials waged a public relations campaign against critics,” he said.

Cruz’s comments followed the passage of an amendment by the US House of Representatives seeking to increase the withholding of American assistance to Nigeria from 50 per cent to 100 per cent until the country demonstrates effective action to curb violence and improve security.

The amendment was approved through a voice vote last week.

The criticism comes months after Nigeria retained the services of DCI Group, a United States-based public affairs and lobbying firm, under a contract reportedly valued at $9 million.

Documents filed with the US Department of Justice indicate that the agreement was executed in December through Kaduna-based Aster Legal on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser, headed by Nuhu Ribadu.

The contract was reportedly intended to communicate Nigeria’s efforts to protect Christians and improve engagement with US policymakers following renewed scrutiny over religious freedom and insecurity.

Cruz has been one of the leading advocates for tougher US measures against Nigeria. In October, he introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, which seeks sanctions against Nigerian government officials alleged to have failed to protect Christians and other religious minorities.

Separately, another Washington lobbying firm, Valcour Global Public Strategy, was retained by Matthew Tonlagha, Vice-Chairman of Tantita Security Services, to promote stronger bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States.

The lobbying efforts have also drawn criticism from Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, who argued that they reflected what he described as a continued culture of denial among Nigerian officials regarding the country’s security challenges.