Overview
- A U.S. Department of Justice filing dated Dec. 18 shows Nigeria retained DCI Group for six months at $4.5 million, with a second $4.5 million tranche due in July 2026 for a total of $9 million.
- The agreement tasks DCI with communicating Nigeria’s actions to protect Christian communities and maintaining U.S. support against jihadist and other destabilizing groups, and the government rejects claims of systemic persecution.
- AllAfrica reports the engagement was arranged by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu through Kaduna-based Aster Legal, with an initial $4.5 million payment on Dec. 12 and signatures by Aster’s Oyetunji Olalekan Teslim and DCI’s Justin Peterson.
- President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria a country of particular concern in November, a U.S. airstrike hit northwest Nigeria on Dec. 25, and Trump said further strikes could follow if Christians are killed.
- U.S. Africa Command said Tuesday it delivered critical military supplies to bolster Nigerian operations, signaling expanded security cooperation.