Civil Society Demands Withdrawal of Controversial Bills

A coalition of approximately 90 civil society organizations from Nigeria, Africa, and the international community held a joint press briefing in Abuja, urging the National Assembly to withdraw several controversial bills. Key representatives included Awwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Dauda Garuba, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Lydia Odeh, CEO of Triple C; and Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.

The coalition specifically opposed the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026 (SB.1034), which would require social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria. They argued that these legislative proposals could further restrict freedoms of expression, assembly, and media independence, exacerbating the already pressured civic space in Nigeria.

Rafsanjani emphasized that these bills represent a broader trend threatening democratic institutions and could instill fear and self-censorship among citizens and civil society.