FOLLOWING the recent engagement of a top United States lobbyist by the Bola Tinubu administration to boost Nigeria’s image before US President Donald Trump and other Republicans, many Nigerians have been asking whether this is the first time a Nigerian government has taken this route.
President Tinubu recently hired a US lobbying and public affairs firm, DCI Group, at the cost of $9 million to communicate its security efforts and response to violence affecting Christians to policymakers in Washington.
Documents filed with the US Department of Justice show that DCI Group, a Washington-based lobbying firm, was contracted to engage US officials on Nigeria’s counterterrorism operations and its handling of allegations of religiously motivated violence.
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The agreement was executed on December 17, 2025, through Aster Legal, a Kaduna-based law firm acting on behalf of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Nuhu Ribadu.
However, this is not the first time a Nigerian government has hired lobbyists before to launder its image before the international community. Under President Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), Nigeria hired a top US lobyist and consultancy firm, Goodworks International, to lobby the US in its favour.
How the lobbyist was hired
Goodworks International was founded in 1996 by Andrew Young, a former civil rights leader and diplomat. Other founders of the firm included Carl Masters and Hamilton Jordan. Late Jordan referred to himself as a ‘political animal’ and campaign whiz-kid. At 26, he ran a successful campaign for governor. At 31, he also ran a successful presidential campaign for Jimmy Carter, who later became president of the US. Mr Jordan eventually became the president’s chief of staff and top confidant.
In 2001, President Obasanjo engaged Goodworks International to boost its image before the US government. According to Economy Post‘s research and an individual who was part of the Obasanjo government, the administration paid the consulting firm ‘millions of dollars’ for the assignment, which lasted for much of the administration. The rationale behind the engagement of the lobbyist was clear: Nigeria was returning from long years of military interregna to democracy in 1999, and it needed to be trusted in the comity of nations.
So, Goodworks International explored its contacts in the US government, representing Nigeria’s interest in the nation and even in other countries. It also marketed Nigeria to investors as a viable investment destination.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
Goodworks International went beyond lobbying the US government officials. It helped Nigeria attract investments. It supported General Electric Energy to secure a contract of $400 million for the supply of turbines in Nigeria. The lobbyist took its own share or commission after the deal had materialised.
Goodworks International says on its LinkedIn page that it is “uniquely focused on emerging markets in Africa and the Caribbean.” The firm says it acts as a catalyst linking forward-thinking companies with fast-growing economies to create, develop and pursue profitable business opportunities that might otherwise go unrealised.
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“GoodWorks was involved in efforts to encourage American companies and investors to engage with the Nigerian economy,” the top member of the Obasanjo’s administration said.
The source noted that under President Olusegun Obasanjo, GoodWorks International did not run direct development programmes in Nigeria but played a role mainly in economic diplomacy and corporate representation tied to the Obasanjo government’s international engagement strategy.
It was gathered that the firm represented major multinational corporations such as Chevron, General Electric, and Motorola seeking contracts or business deals with the Nigerian government. It also played a facilitator role for business deals during Obasanjo’s tenure. It acted as a link between foreign firms and government agencies, including involvement in structuring deals that brought foreign companies into sectors such as energy and infrastructure.
“Some Nigerians at that time felt that it was a waste of resources. But I am not sure it was a total waste of resources because the firm even, to some extent, helped Nigeria when we were seeking debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. The challenge was always about the money spent, but some of us in the administration felt that it was worth it,” the source noted.
