Civil Society Groups Demand Withdrawal of Foreign Aid Bill

On October 1, 2026, thirty civil society organizations, including Yiaga Africa and Accountability Lab Nigeria, called for the withdrawal of the proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, 2026, during a press conference in Abuja. Sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the bill aims to regulate and monitor the operations and funding of NGOs and civil society organizations.

The groups expressed alarm over the bill's potential to impose excessive sanctions, including the suspension or revocation of operational licenses, which they argue could effectively lead to deregistration. Odeh Friday, Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, criticized the bill for lacking safeguards against regulatory abuse and questioned provisions requiring foreign aid to align with government objectives.

The organizations also condemned selective transparency requirements that target foreign-funded NGOs while excluding domestic political donations. They argued that the bill threatens the future of civic activities in Nigeria amid ongoing economic hardships.