Nigeria Pays Mercury Public Affairs $300 Million For PR in America, Report Says

A report from New York-Based O’Dwyer’s, has revealed that the Government of Nigeria is paying Mercury Public Affairs, a unit of Omnicom Group, $300 million for PR in the United States. The deal will assist Nigeria in “enhancing bilateral diplomatic, economic and security relations between it and the U.S.” This outreach program is for 4-months, and will also have Mercury “provide Nigerian Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye government affairs counsel and will foster meetings for Nigerian officials with U.S. business and thought leaders.” Mercury’s Vin Weber, the former Minnesota Congressman and well-connected Republican operative, is expected to play a key part in the push for Nigeria. This comes as Nigeria prepares for its 100th anniversary in 2014 and also to promote its new ‘Fascinating Nigeria’ identity.