Mike Arnold, former mayor of Blanco and founder of Africa Arise International, revealed on X that a former Trump insider is now working for Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu in a role that could directly conflict with Trump’s policies.
Tinubu, who has faced drug and money laundering charges in the United States, shows no signs of change and is now paying a former White House advisor to help downplay Trump and international concerns over attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
A recent Foreign Agents Registration Act filing shows that this past White House advisor is being paid to support Nigeria while the country faces scrutiny over attacks on Christians, raising questions about the influence of U.S. lobbyists on foreign human rights issues.
Back on October 31, 2025, Trump officially labeled Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern, pointing to serious religious violence. His administration also called out ISIS as a major threat to Christians, carried out airstrikes against ISWAP targets in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, and deployed 200 U.S. troops to help with counterterrorism training.
Now enters Matt Mowers.
Mowers joined the Trump administration on day one in 2017, serving as a senior advisor at the State Department under Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo. His work included North Korea policy, immigration reform, and coordinating the global fight against ISIS. Before that, he helped run Trump’s 2016 campaign and later launched two congressional bids backed by top Republicans like Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise.
But on December 30, 2025 just two months after Trump’s Nigeria designation Mowers’ firm, Valcour LLC, registered as a foreign agent for Nigeria.
The pay: $120,000 a month.
This isn’t speculation. It’s a public filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, officially logged with the U.S. Department of Justice in early January 2026.
The contract ties back to Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, linked to Matthew Tonlagha, a leader connected to Tantita Security Services. That company is tied to Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo, a former militant now running a major pipeline surveillance operation backed by Nigeria’s government under President Bola Tinubu.
Money flow details raise eyebrows. Mowers received $360,000 upfront, then quickly sent $105,000 to Bridgeway Advocacy and $60,000 to Mount Olives LLC. That means $165,000 moved through subcontractors within just two weeks.
The official goal listed: manage communications and influence U.S. media, Congress, and the executive branch to strengthen U.S.–Nigeria relations.
In simple terms, critics say it means lobbying U.S. officials to ease pressure after Nigeria’s CPC designation.
And this is just one piece of a bigger effort.
Nigeria’s lobbying push now includes four registered firms:
- DCI Group AZ with a $9 million contract over six months
- BGR Government Affairs at $150,000 per month
- Adomi Advisory Group working directly with lawmakers
- Valcour LLC, led by Mowers, at $720,000 for six months
Total known spending has passed $10 million, with contracts running through mid-2026 right during key congressional hearings and international religious freedom reviews.
What stands out most is the choice.
Mowers built his career closely tied to Trump, worked on religious freedom issues, and had direct knowledge of extremist violence in Nigeria, including Boko Haram and ISIS-linked groups.
Despite that, he accepted a deal worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to represent interests tied to the same government now under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, victims of violence in places like Plateau, Borno, and Zamfara states have no lobbying budgets, only their stories.
Some of those voices are expected to speak on Capitol Hill on March 25, while lobbyists representing Nigeria will also be present behind the scenes.
All filings are public and traceable. The real question now is which U.S. lawmakers are hearing these messages and what they choose to believe.
