₦airaland Forum

US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial’

by Claire Mom

United States lawmakers revisited concerns of religious freedom in Nigeria during a hearing on the topic on Wednesday in Washington DC.

The hearing examined countries worldwide where the lawmakers say religious freedom is under threat, a characterisation Nigerian authorities have rejected.

Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, house foreign affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians”.

“That wrong in our foreign policy has been righted with the President’s CPC designation. We commend and thank him for that action,” Smith said.

While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals aimed at influencing the US government.

In December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect Christians to the US government.

The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the US and Nigeria.

Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists”.

“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.

“They hire these firms; they come up with their very well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious freedom.”

Joaquin Castro, a lawmaker, questioned the effectiveness of the US strikes in Nigeria last year.

He accused the President Donald Trump administration of striking using a front of “protecting Christians” yet “cutting assistance that would actually address discrimination against religious communities”.

The lawmakers also debated Nigeria’s CPC redesignation, with some describing it as largely “name and shame” without direct consequences, while others said it helped refocus “attention on Nigeria”.

https://www.thecable.ng/us-lawmaker-criticises-fgs-9m-lobbying-deal-says-nigerian-officials-have-a-culture-of-denial/

Nigeria a Fantastically corrupt State.

The corntree is now on autopilot.

Anything goes.

While Helinues and yarimo defend with borrowed data.

The contractor that collected the money be like "NO REFUND AFTER PAYMENT TULUMBU"

Let's keep exposing our moral decadence to the world,money that can build several industries in the country,squandered with reckless abandon in the worst form impunity....yet nothing will be done to the offenders,Nigerians no longer have the strength to protest and when they do,they quickly organize a counter protest by sharing peanuts,they have succeeded in weaponizing poverty. They now have 'data boys'online,political thugs,street urchins,all willing to fight for them because they need to survive the poverty stricken environment created by the same oppressors. It is such a pity!

A case of my lobbyist is better than yours. Lol

Islie:
US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial’




https://www.thecable.ng/us-lawmaker-criticises-fgs-9m-lobbying-deal-says-nigerian-officials-have-a-culture-of-denial/

Dirty and shady deal.The desperation with which APC-led government is seeking both local and foreign validation for the abysmal performance and political havoc is horrendous and absurd.Nigeria's worse choice was made since 2015.

Funny country with funny lobbyists.

Funny "sovereign" nation with a funny president and his funny political "gimmicks".

Turkey-falling babablue feeling funky with 9203 corrupt entities.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

This discredited and disgraced Tinubu regime cannot hoodwink the US even if Tinubu offer Remi to Trump.

US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial. "

This casting is a monumental shame, disgrace and embarrassment for Nigerian under this APC government. How can you be scratching the surface of a problem and using lies and propaganda to downplay it. For goodness sake, lives are being lost.

Alright wr have heard you so what should we do about it now?

You focused on Nigeria matter but you unruly and ill mannered president just called a fellow man who was your ex president apes so focus on such barbaric racist and deplorable statement and nor Nigeria matter by trying to play hide and seek shit...

Lol this US government is not the usual nonsense we have been used to growing up.

They don't mind opening everybody's nyash oh.

This is truly sad...! What a lost country we are

TheStoriesOfMan:
Funny country with funny lobbyists.

Funny "sovereign" nation with a funny president and his funny political "gimmicks".

Turkey-falling babablue feeling funky with 9203 corrupt entities.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

And in your own eyes you are funny? No not at all.

Anyway regardless your comedy antics its very sad and very infiltrate to tell you 4+4=8 and you can't do anything about it...

All these at the expense of the defenseless Nigerians dying daily like chicken. All those turning a blind eye to the reality on ground will certainly taste of it!

Lets face facts the sooner we break Nija the better.

Nevertheless I lay the blame of whats happening to Nigeria at the feet of RCCG & Adeboye, they helped bring this Islamic period to Nigeria.

May God judge Adeboye & RCCG

Ozinlex:
This is truly sad...! What a lost country we are

And you still lives in the lost country? Pls what are you waiting for here? Anybody who still lives in a lost country is a lost soul, hope you grab the message?

The only three vices this clueless n useless government are know for are Propaganda, Corruption n Bribery... It's crystal clear they Only came to steal power for nothing...What do we call this now.. Fantastically Corrupt cum Shit hole!!!...

What a disgrace, nothing is being don right again, this country don go.

No vex bros. Na Peter Him Tu Lie them they try cope with.

Thank heavens Americans see through the lies and propaganda they feed Nigerians on a daily

They don't have money for displaced Christians and survivors of massacres but have $9m to deceive American lawmakers

APC is a demonic entity

One of the reasons Madam Tinubu said they are respected outside the country. Madam werey

Jayhome24:
And in your own eyes you are funny? No not at all.

Anyway regardless your comedy antics its very sad and very infiltrate to tell you 4+4=8 and you can't do anything about it...

Tell that one to the people at home. You think 4+4 will affect only me and it won't affect you?

You must be kidding.

Funny APC agents with funny ideologies. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Na even Tantita dem they use run the propaganda effort

What has the massacre of Christians to do with oil pipelines in the Niger Delta ??

Clear as day this means the Tantita contract is a money laundering project

Islie:
US lawmaker criticises FG’s $9m lobbying deal, says Nigerian officials have a ‘culture of denial’




https://www.thecable.ng/us-lawmaker-criticises-fgs-9m-lobbying-deal-says-nigerian-officials-have-a-culture-of-denial/

So any approval or disapproval from every single member of the US Congress should be our headache?
There are lots of morons in the US Congress and most of them support the horrible policies of Trump. How many of them condemn the racist post of Trump comparing Obama with an Ape? Nairaland Forum should get a grip and stop these inferiority complex. Don't turn us to fear fear babies. We are not obedients please.

GOFRONT:
Nigeria a Fantastically corrupt State.

Lobbying is done by a y Democratic Govt - All Over The World,make Una Rest,I take God beg you.
It is Part of How Democracy Evolves and Any Govt In Power Must do it to diffuse Tension between The Govt and Other Foreigners.
It is a Launchpad to Grassroots Mobilisations And Communication.
Nothing Is New In What Nigeria Govt is doing!

Akpabio is Playing The Satanic Script Written By Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his evil Cronies to Subvert the Wills of The Nigerian People.

Nigerians Must stand up against these tendencies.

Realtime transmission of results is all we want

Is Obama not an Ape?

Trump praised TINUBU he was an Angel, he calls Obama an Ape and you are crying.

Nansense

amaridigital:
So any approval or disapproval from every single member of the US Congress should be our headache?
There are lots of morons in the US Congress and most of them support the horrible policies of Trump. How many of them condemn the racist post of Trump comparing Obama with an Ape? Nairaland Forum should get a grip and stop these inferiority complex. Don't turn us to fear fear babies. We are not obedients please.

Wasting scarce $9 million to do PR.APC is wastage personified.

How can he be angry about what is in the US culture?

He should say he wants his share or let us hear word, jare.