Foreign Image Over Domestic Safety: Yoruba Union Faults Tinubu For $9 Million U.S. Lobby Deal Amid Worsening Insecurity In Nigeria

Ikeja, Lagos State– A pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of misplaced priorities and reckless spending following reports that the Federal Government committed $9 million to a U.S.-based Republican lobbying firm while insecurity continues to ravage Nigeria.

The group said the $9 million allegedly paid to a Republican lobbyist to influence the United States government could have been deployed to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, which have left thousands dead, many more kidnapped, and communities displaced across the country.

In a statement signed by the Convener of Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, Olusola Badero, and released through its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the union accused President Tinubu of being more concerned about foreign image laundering and second-term political calculations than the daily suffering of Nigerians.

According to the group, the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government is allegedly wasting taxpayers’ money on foreign lobbyists for manipulation and propaganda out of fear of possible defeat ahead of the 2027 general elections, while ordinary Nigerians face killings, kidnappings and violent attacks on a daily basis.

“Instead of addressing the real issues confronting the country, the Tinubu government is busy paying foreign individuals huge sums of money to tell lies about Nigeria’s security situation,” they said.

“Meanwhile, Nigerians are being killed, kidnapped and attacked every day without protection or justice.”

The Yoruba Union also accused the President of pretending that Nigeria is secure, despite what it described as the widespread presence of terrorists and violent criminal groups across almost all the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The group further alleged that while innocent citizens continue to suffer, the APC-led government has been granting amnesty to terrorists who have killed, kidnapped and collected ransom from helpless Nigerians.

“For how long will oppressed citizens continue to live in fear and panic?” the group asked.

“Why is President Tinubu wasting such huge amounts of money on unnecessary ventures instead of confronting insecurity head-on? At a time when Nigerians needed leadership and courage, the President travelled to France, leaving citizens at the mercy of terrorists.”

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá said it was alarmed after reading a report published by SaharaReporters, which alleged that Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, facilitated the engagement of a U.S. lobbying firm, DCI Group, through a Kaduna-based law firm, Aster Legal.

According to the report cited by the group, the purpose of the lobbying contract was to persuade the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and key American lawmakers that Nigeria is taking concrete steps to address insecurity, particularly the killings of Christians in the northern part of the country.

The union referenced U.S. Department of Justice filings mentioned in the report, which indicated that the Tinubu administration had already paid DCI Group an initial $4.5 million on December 12, 2025. The payment reportedly covers a six-month retainer, with another $4.5 million due by July 2026.

This arrangement brings the total value of the contract to $9 million, or about $750,000 per month—an amount described in the report as one of the most expensive lobbying contracts ever signed by an African government.

The Yoruba Union questioned the rationale behind such expenditure, asking why President Tinubu would spend scarce national resources to appease President Donald Trump when, according to the group, the administration has shown no clear political will or effective strategy to tackle insecurity, economic hardship and governance failures at home.

“Why is Tinubu wasting citizens’ resources to appease President Donald Trump, when he knows very well that his government has a poor record in security, the economy and the political will required to crush terrorists?” they queried.

The group condemned what it called reckless and insensitive spending, urging Nigerians to hold President Tinubu accountable for what it described as the squandering of public funds on frivolous and non-essential activities while citizens are attacked, killed and kidnapped daily without lasting solutions.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá also called on the international community to wade into the allegations surrounding the $9 million lobbying deal and urged U.S. authorities, including President Donald Trump, to investigate the funds allegedly collected by the Republican lobbyist.

“Nigerians are dying every day in the hands of terrorists,” the group said. “Our schools and hospitals are in terrible, dilapidated conditions. Millions of children are out of school because of insecurity and unbearable hardship across the country.”

The union maintained that $9 million could address numerous critical problems within Nigeria, including strengthening local security operations, supporting victims of terrorism, rebuilding destroyed communities, and improving basic social services, rather than being handed over to foreign individuals who have nothing meaningful to contribute to the lives of Nigerians.

Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá called for urgent action, transparency and accountability, warning that continued neglect of citizens’ welfare and security could deepen public anger and further erode trust in the government.

However, they urged the federal government to prioritise the safety and welfare of citizens over international image management.