Nigerian Senate Advances Bill to Regulate Foreign Aid and NGOs

The Senate of Nigeria advanced a bill to its second reading on July 22, 2026, aimed at establishing stricter government oversight of foreign aid, grants, and donor-funded interventions. Sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, the legislation proposes the creation of a National Donor Coordination Framework and a mandatory national database to track assistance received by government agencies, sub-national governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The bill requires the integration of donor projects into national budgets and mandates the public disclosure of funding to eliminate opacity and prevent the duplication of efforts. Lawmakers argued that the current lack of oversight allows donor-funded projects to bypass official budget processes, creating opportunities for financial misuse. Provisions in the bill include sanctions for those who fail to register projects or misuse funds.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin warned that unregulated foreign funding poses significant national security risks, suggesting that some funds may inadvertently support insurgents or fraudulent pseudo-NGOs. Senator Sani Musa Danja added that the legislation would align Nigeria with international best practices and increase donor confidence by addressing accountability gaps.

The Senate referred the bill to the Committees on Finance and National Planning and Economic Development for further review and a public hearing. A formal report is expected within four weeks.