The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the Federal Government for engaging a United States lobbying firm at the cost of $9 million, describing the move as wasteful and deceptive.

The government recently contracted DCI Group, an American public relations and lobbying outfit, to project its efforts at protecting Christians in Nigeria to the US authorities.

The engagement followed the decision of former US President Donald Trump in October 2025 to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” over allegations of widespread violations of religious freedom and claims of persecution of Christians.

Reacting yesterday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the contract was “defective, shameful and deceptive”, insisting that it portrayed the government as lacking confidence in its own institutions.

In a statement in Abuja, Ememobong expressed surprise that the administration bypassed the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, which is constitutionally saddled with managing the country’s image.

“It is disturbing that the government would ignore a full-fledged ministry staffed with seasoned professionals and headed by a public relations expert, only to hire a foreign firm to do the same job,” he said.

The opposition party demanded explanations from the Presidency on whether the contract was captured in the 2025 budget and why it was routed through a private law firm instead of the Ministry of Justice.

It also queried the roles of information officers attached to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad if image laundering had now been outsourced.

According to Ememobong, no amount of lobbying can replace the realities on ground.

“No strategic communication firm can manufacture narratives that will substitute the lived experiences of Nigerians,” he noted.

He urged the Tinubu administration to focus on protecting lives and property rather than spending public funds on what he called “ephemeral optics”.

“The undeniable truth is that Nigerians have not felt this insecure, even during the civil war,” he added.

The PDP advised the President to prioritise security and good governance, stressing that genuine improvement in the safety of citizens would naturally enhance Nigeria’s global image.