Nigerian billionaire Matthew Tonlagha has signed a contract with an American firm to "strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Nigeria," AFP learned on Monday.

This contract closely follows the one concluded in December between Nigeria's national security advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, and the American lobbying firm DCI Group, for the sum of $750,000 per month, or $9 million annually.

DCI must help the Nigerian government communicate on "its actions to protect Christian communities in Nigeria and maintain US support in the fight against West African jihadist groups and other disruptive elements."

These contracts come after the diplomatic offensive launched in October by US President Donald Trump, who accused Nigerian armed groups of persecuting Christians, victims according to him of a "genocide", and the Nigerian authorities of turning a blind eye.

All these allegations had been denied by Abuja and independent analysts, but the United States conducted military strikes in the northwest of the country on Christmas Day targeting Islamic State jihadists in the Sahel.

At the end of December, Mr. Tonlagha, through his company Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, hired the Washington-based lobbying firm Valcour Global Public Strategy.

Valcour is to "provide strategic communications and government affairs consulting services to US media and government officials, including the US Congress and executive branches, with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations between the United States and Nigeria," according to the contract seen by AFP.

According to this contract, published on a US government platform where lobbyists are required to register their ties with foreign governments, Valcour will be paid $120,000 per month for 6 months.

Valcour was launched in 2023 by Matt Mowers, who served as an advisor at the White House within the U.S. State Department during President Donald Trump's first term, and had advised his campaign.

Mr. Tonlagha is also the vice-president of Tantita Security, a company specializing in the protection of oil sites, owned by Oweizidei Thomas Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo, a figure in the struggle of the militants of the Niger Delta (MEND).

This movement denounced the appropriation of local oil by foreign companies and the Nigerian government, to the detriment of local populations, and sabotaged oil installations and carried out kidnappings.

Tompolo now benefits from numerous contracts awarded by the Nigerian government to protect oil installations. He is also a strong supporter of the re-election of current President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Mr. Tonlagha celebrated his 50th birthday on Monday with a lavish ceremony in Warri, Delta State, in the south of the country, which was broadcast on the Nigerian television channel Arise News.