By Happy Bayo
National News – United States Senator Ted Cruz has accused the Nigerian government of engaging lobbyists in Washington to deflect international criticism over the killing of Christians and worsening insecurity across the country.
Cruz alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was relying on public relations campaigns instead of addressing concerns raised by the United States and other international stakeholders regarding attacks on Christians and religious minorities.
His comments followed Nigeria’s reported engagement of DCI Group, a United States-based public affairs and lobbying firm, under a $9 million contract. According to documents filed with the US Department of Justice, the contract was facilitated by Kaduna-based Aster Legal on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The senator, who sponsored the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, said on his X account that some Nigerian officials had failed to tackle religious violence and instead sought to influence international opinion through lobbying efforts.
According to Cruz, American lawmakers are pushing measures to hold Nigerian officials accountable for alleged violations of religious freedom and to ensure stronger action against violence targeting Christians and other religious communities.
His reaction comes after the US House of Representatives approved an amendment seeking to increase the withholding of US assistance to Nigeria from 50 percent to 100 percent until the country demonstrates effective measures to prevent and respond to violence within its borders.
Cruz argued that rather than addressing concerns raised by the United States, Nigerian officials opted to embark on a public relations campaign aimed at countering criticism.
The senator’s remarks also coincide with reports that Washington-based lobbying firms have been retained by Nigerian interests to strengthen diplomatic relations between both countries. Some US lawmakers have criticised the lobbying arrangements, arguing that they do not address the underlying security challenges.
Timi Frank Questions Presidency’s Interpretation of Trump’s Letter
Meanwhile, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has accused the Presidency of misleading Nigerians over a reported letter from US President Donald Trump.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Frank described the correspondence as a routine diplomatic communication on security cooperation rather than an endorsement of President Tinubu or his administration.
He challenged the Presidency to publish the full document to verify its authenticity, arguing that if it truly represented a significant endorsement from the US President, it would have been released immediately.
Frank also questioned reports that Nigeria had spent millions of dollars on lobbying firms in the United States, insisting that governments with strong international credibility should not depend on costly image-management campaigns abroad.
According to him, national credibility is built through transparent governance, accountability and democratic leadership rather than public relations efforts or diplomatic correspondence.
The Presidency has yet to officially respond to the latest remarks by Cruz and Frank.
