By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration over reports that the Federal Government approved a $9 million contract for lobbying services in the United States, describing the move as scandalous, indefensible and a sign of misplaced priorities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party accused the government of attempting to launder its international image while Nigerians continue to face worsening insecurity and deepening economic hardship.

The ADC said the decision to commit such a large sum to foreign public relations efforts comes at a time when thousands of Nigerians have been killed by violent attacks and millions are struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, fuel and healthcare.

According to the party, no amount of paid lobbying abroad can conceal what it described as the administration’s failure to protect lives and property at home. It argued that the expenditure reflects “moral blindness” and a clear disconnect from the realities facing ordinary citizens.

The ADC further described the lobbying contract as an admission of diplomatic failure, noting that key ambassadorial positions remain vacant while the government seeks to outsource diplomacy to foreign lobbyists. This approach, the party warned, undermines Nigeria’s institutional credibility and reduces foreign policy to what it called “transactional propaganda.”

The party also faulted the suggestion that the lobbying effort is aimed at communicating the government’s Christian protection initiatives, warning that such framing could inflame sectarian tensions in an already fragile and divided country. It stressed that insecurity affects Nigerians of all faiths and cannot be addressed through selective messaging abroad.

Reiterating its position, the ADC said Nigeria does not need propaganda but decisive leadership, adding that public resources should be directed toward ending insecurity, restoring confidence in state institutions and addressing the country’s economic distress rather than polishing the image of the government overseas.