A recent filing under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) has revealed that Matt Mowers, a former senior White House advisor to Donald Trump, is now working as a registered foreign agent for Nigeria.
The development raises questions about lobbying efforts aimed at reversing U.S. policy designations against the West African nation.
From Trump’s Inner Circle to Nigeria’s Lobbyist
Mowers, who served as Trump’s Senior Advisor at the State Department from 2017 to 2021, was deeply involved in foreign policy issues including North Korea, immigration reform, and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
He also ran Trump’s 2016 campaign field operations, served on the transition team, and twice sought election to Congress on his Trump credentials.
On December 30, 2025, just two months after Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom violations, Mowers’ firm Valcour, LLC registered as a foreign agent for Nigeria.
The contract, filed under FARA Registration #7373, lists a fee of $120,000 per month, totaling $720,000 over six months.
The Nigerian Connection
The filing identifies Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited as the foreign principal.
The company is managed by Matthew Tonlagha, Vice Chairman of Tantita Security Services, a pipeline surveillance firm run by former militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Tantita has received multi-billion-naira contracts from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, linking the lobbying effort directly to Nigeria’s political ecosystem.
Mowers’ initial payment of $360,000 was disbursed on December 30, with $105,000 sent to Bridgeway Advocacy and $60,000 to Mount Olives LLC as subcontractor fees.
Tinubu’s $10 Million Lobbying Machine
Valcour is only one part of a broader lobbying network. Nigeria currently has four active FARA registrations in Washington:
- DCI Group AZ — $9 million over six months, directed by Nigeria’s National Security Advisor.
- BGR Government Affairs — $150,000 per month, engaging Congress and the White House.
- Adomi Advisory Group — contracted by Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance to draft letters for U.S. congressional committees.
- Valcour (Matt Mowers) — $720,000 for six months, leveraging Trump-era connections.
Together, these contracts represent more than $10 million in lobbying expenditures, timed to coincide with congressional briefings and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reporting cycles.
Below is an artistic impression of Matt Mowers and his contractual lobbyist appointment as depicted by Mike Arnold on social media:
Policy Stakes
Trump’s CPC designation of Nigeria in October 2025 cited threats to Christians from ISIS and Boko Haram, alongside worsening insecurity.
His administration ordered airstrikes against ISWAP targets in Sokoto State and deployed 200 U.S. troops for counterterrorism training.
Critics like Mike Arnold argue that Mowers, who once worked on religious freedom issues at the State Department, is now lobbying against the very policies he helped shape.
“He knows what ISIS does to Christians. He knows what Boko Haram did.
“He knows what the CPC designation means. He took the money anyway,” one advocacy group stated.
Looking Ahead
On March 25, 2026, victims of violence from Plateau, Borno, and Zamfara States are expected to testify before Congress.
At the same time, Nigeria’s lobbying firms are anticipated to be active in Washington’s corridors, pressing for a softer U.S. stance.
Observers say the filings highlight the growing influence of foreign lobbying in U.S. policymaking.
They raise uncomfortable questions about former officials leveraging their connections to reshape policy for foreign governments.
