Nigerian businessman hires lobbying firm for $720,000 to ‘strengthen US-Nigeria bilateral relationship’

Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, has hired a Washington-based lobbying firm for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the United States and Nigeria.

Tonlagha, through his company, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a global public strategy firm specialising in shaping public policy, political opinion and media.

According to the document filed with the US Department of Justice, the contract was signed by Tonlagha and Matt Mowers, the president of the lobbying firm, on December 16, 2025.

Mowers served as a senior White House advisor in the US Department of state during the first term of President Donald Trump. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Based on the contract details, the lobbying firm is expected to “provide consulting services for strategic communications & government affairs with US media and government officials, including the US Congress and Executive Branches, for the purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship between the US and Nigeria.”

The contract was agreed to take effect from December 15, 2025, to June 14, 2026. The Nigerian engineering company is expected to pay $120,000 per month to the lobbying firm, “payable quarterly in advance by check or wire transfer”.

Prior to the registration of the contract, the Nigerian company, on December 31, 2025, paid $105,000 for a “monthly retainer for subcontractor services” to Bridgeway Advocacy.

The sum of $60,000 was paid to Mount Olives LLC on January 5, 2026, for “monthly retainer for subcontractor services”.

Twenty-four hours after the contract was signed, the federal government hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract deal to assist in communicating its actions on protecting Christians in Nigeria to the United States government.

Aster Legal, a law firm in Kaduna state, hired the services of DCI Group on behalf of Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA).

The lobbying contracts indicate the desire of the Nigerian government to relate well with the US government amid the conversation of Christian genocide claims.

WHO IS MATTHEW TONLAGHA?

Tonlagha hails from Benikrukru, Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Delta state.

He is the vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, a company awarded the contract for oil pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta area.

Government Ekpemupolo, a former militant known as Tompolo, is the chairperson of the oil pipeline surveillance company.

Tonlagha is the chairman of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited.

According to the information on the company’s website, Maton Engineering is a “multidisciplinary engineering and project support company dedicated to powering the oil & gas industry with reliable, end-to-end solutions.”

Its vice-chairman is one of the loyalists of President Bola Tinubu in the Niger Delta area of the country.

On Monday, Tonlagha organised a flamboyant ceremony in Warri, the Delta state capital, to celebrate his 50th birthday.

The ceremony, which was live streamed on Arise Television and TVC, was attended by Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, and political and traditional leaders in the Niger Delta.

In his speech, Oborevwori asked people to emulate Tonlagha for his “service to humanity” and how he has brought people across the nation together. (The Cable)