abuja bill propose nigerian lawmakers regulate non-governmental organizations ngos threaten freedoms hand government sweep power civil society array group say wednesday public hear nigeria capital abuja representatives several ngos call bill kill describe extremely dangerous cripple civil society potentially endanger life organizations engage human right advocacy government accountability promotion democracy interference operations portend grave risk work live personnel say nigerian ngo space change statement nigeria policy legal advocacy centre plac warn doubt first victims bill would ngos traditionally active area ensure accountability transparency government citizens sponsor bill house representatives nigeria low parliamentary chamber allege ngos use donate fund support activities arm militants insurgents boko haram country northeast accord nigerian media report sponsor umar jibril make public evidence support allegations draft law pass second read low house parliament publicly debate ahead final read vote would regulate ngos fund activities foreign affiliation name national security control ngos assets bill would also create ngo regulatory commission civil society body would need register breach law commission would discretion group register must re-register every two years present set ngo simple process many group register corporate affairs commission not-for-profit organization constitution guarantee nigerians assembly association right freedom house right watchdog say nigeria africa populous democracy partly free 2017 report freedom house say country broad vibrant civil society government force continue commit gross human right violations impunity include extrajudicial kill arbitrary mass arrest illegal detentions torture civilians ngo representatives public hear describe give regulatory commission discretion approve project live could stake emergencies fund urgently need vaccines outbreak disease others criticize vague bill repeat justification maintain national security say open broad interpretations could give government ample opportunity misuse state power without accountability amnesty international statement say bill keep nigerians freely share opinions hold open discussion forums organize people protest nigeria ngos slam civil society bill grave threat freedoms