Select Committee · International Development Committee

The UK’s development partnership with Nigeria

Status: Open Opened: 17 Jul 2025 3 recommendations 24 conclusions 1 report

Nigeria was the sixth largest recipient of UK Official Development Assistance in 2023 with over £100m allocated. This was a reduction from third place in 2022 when it received £110m. As of 2024, Nigeria had by far the largest population in Africa and one of the highest population growth rates. Nigeria is the fourth largest … Show more

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report – The UK’s development partnership with Nigeria HC 207 14 Jul 2026 27 Pending

Recommendations & Conclusions

27 items
1 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

We are disappointed by the delayed release of the FCDO’s Official Development Assistance country allocations...

We are disappointed by the delayed release of the FCDO’s Official Development Assistance country allocations for the coming years. This made deeper scrutiny of FCDO strategy in Nigeria difficult while our inquiry was under way, as we did not have access to spending plans for the years ahead. (Conclusion, Paragraph … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
2 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The Department must commit to aligning the announcement of new approaches and strategies with the...

The Department must commit to aligning the announcement of new approaches and strategies with the release of spending plans, in order to generate confidence in its plans and its appetite for transparency. (Recommendation, Paragraph 6) The Nigeria-UK Strategic Partnership Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The UK’s partnership with Nigeria represents a grand strategic bet: assisting Nigeria to improve its...

The UK’s partnership with Nigeria represents a grand strategic bet: assisting Nigeria to improve its economy, administration and security in order to unlock its growth potential, and then capitalising on the two countries’ shared history and people-to-people links in order to achieve development objectives in the country, as well as … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

We welcome the long-term, strategic partnership established between the UK and Nigeria, grounded in shared...

We welcome the long-term, strategic partnership established between the UK and Nigeria, grounded in shared interests relating to stability, security and economic development. The strategy represents a wider shift in development strategy from the UK Government, with the intention of putting partnership and mutual benefit at the centre of programming. … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
5 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

As we outlined in our report, “The Future of UK Aid and Development Assistance”, the...

As we outlined in our report, “The Future of UK Aid and Development Assistance”, the FCDO will need to set out further details on how its four essential shifts can create a step-change in policy efficacy and implementation. A belief that a changed mindset alone will make a 45 marked … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The FCDO must develop a clear monitoring framework for assessing implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus...

The FCDO must develop a clear monitoring framework for assessing implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus in Nigeria. This framework should include: • the proportion of programmes containing integrated cross-sector objectives; • the proportion of funding allocated to multi-sector programming; • measures of local civil society and women-led participation; • indicators … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
8 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The Committee is deeply concerned by the scale of humanitarian need in Nigeria and by...

The Committee is deeply concerned by the scale of humanitarian need in Nigeria and by evidence that humanitarian systems are increasingly unable to meet demand. These issues have the potential to undermine the goals of the Nigeria-UK Strategic Partnership. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43) Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
9 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

Nigeria has the potential to take on responsibility for meeting its own humanitarian need.

Nigeria has the potential to take on responsibility for meeting its own humanitarian need. It is right that the FCDO is working alongside the Government of Nigeria to achieve this end, allowing UK ODA to be reallocated to projects and programmes that work towards the UK’s strategic development goals in … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
12 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

Within six months of the publication of this report, the FCDO should share with us...

Within six months of the publication of this report, the FCDO should share with us funding and programming details for humanitarian and conflict monitoring, displacement tracking and early-warning systems across Nigeria, including how data from these systems is integrated into wider programming in the country. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) Instability and … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14 Recommendation 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The Government must undertake a review, to be shared with the Committee no later than...

The Government must undertake a review, to be shared with the Committee no later than six months from the publication of this report, on how it can contribute towards strengthening regional approaches to insecurity and instability across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, recognising the increasingly transnational nature of displacement, … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

Instability in Nigeria cannot be addressed through military responses alone and requires a comprehensive strategy...

Instability in Nigeria cannot be addressed through military responses alone and requires a comprehensive strategy addressing the underlying drivers of conflict and insecurity. It is not the responsibility of the UK alone to address this instability. (Conclusion, Paragraph 81) Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
16 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

We are encouraged by many of the programmes implemented by the FCDO across Nigeria.

We are encouraged by many of the programmes implemented by the FCDO across Nigeria. The Propcom+ programme, for instance, has been independently assessed to be achieving commendable results in agricultural transformation, which will combat several drivers of instability, including poverty and tensions over land use. (Conclusion, Paragraph 82) Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
18 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

While many of these programmes satisfy the pleas made to us by witnesses and stakeholders...

While many of these programmes satisfy the pleas made to us by witnesses and stakeholders for improvements in UK programming across Nigeria and the Sahel, they are clearly insufficient: conflict, extremism and banditry continue to rise, with severe knock-on effects for Nigerians and for regional security. Given the relatively low … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
19 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The FCDO should ensure that conflict prevention and atrocity prevention capabilities remain adequately resourced and...

The FCDO should ensure that conflict prevention and atrocity prevention capabilities remain adequately resourced and integrated across future Nigeria and Sahel programming. This must include strengthened support for: • early-warning systems; • conflict monitoring; • atrocity prevention; • and data collection relating to displacement and violence. (Recommendation, Paragraph 85) Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
21 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

While it is the case that instability arising from religious tensions is notable, we do...

While it is the case that instability arising from religious tensions is notable, we do not consider it to be a primary driver of instability across Nigeria, particularly when considered alongside compounding factors, including land disputes resulting from climate change. (Conclusion, Paragraph 87) Civil Society Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22 Recommendation 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

The FCDO should review its current level of support for community-led early-warning, mediation and peacebuilding...

The FCDO should review its current level of support for community-led early-warning, mediation and peacebuilding structures; and the level of female leadership within these structures. When sharing the findings of that report with the Committee, the FCDO should set out whether it believes its measures on these metrics are sufficient, … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
23 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

Without clear information on the design and accessibility of programmes, and without equality impact assessments...

Without clear information on the design and accessibility of programmes, and without equality impact assessments being carried out routinely, we are unable to scrutinise fully the degree to which FCDO programming in Nigeria is targeted at: • women and girls; • children; • LGBTQ+ people; • Disabled people; • older … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
25 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

We are impressed by the work of local organisations with whom the FCDO works, including...

We are impressed by the work of local organisations with whom the FCDO works, including on peacebuilding, stabilisation and early warning efforts. This is an excellent example of localisation within the FCDO’s Nigeria portfolio. (Conclusion, Paragraph 99) Economic Development Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
26 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

Economic resilience and livelihoods support should form a central component of the UK-Nigeria strategic partnership.

Economic resilience and livelihoods support should form a central component of the UK-Nigeria strategic partnership. It is vital that the partnership helps to provide economic opportunities for women and young people, recognising the role of inclusion and livelihoods in reducing vulnerability to recruitment into extremist groups and instability. (Conclusion, Paragraph … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Conclusion 1st Report – The UK’s development partn…

We are disappointed that the FCDO has not worked alongside BII to ensure that a...

We are disappointed that the FCDO has not worked alongside BII to ensure that a reduction in forced displacement becomes a key criterion in BII’s investment decision making. With such a large portfolio across Nigeria—a country that hosts a vast number of displaced people—strategic investments from BII in this regard … Read more

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
28 Apr 2026 Chris Chijiutomi · British International Investment, Cynthia Rowe · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Cynthia Rowe · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Kate Foster OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Olalekan Yinusa · Nigeria Governors' Forum, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
13 Jan 2026 Aisha Abdurrahman · Bridge for Women Development Initiative (BOWDI), Bryan Weiner · Search for Common Ground, Hamsatu Allamin · Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Saratu Joshua Pindar · CIVIC, Tog Gang · Mercy Corps View ↗
2 Dec 2025 Andrew Mamedu · ActionAid Nigeria, Arjun Jain · UNHCR, Camilla Higgins · INGO Forum Nigeria, Evelyn Mere · WaterAid Nigeria, Mary Dinah · Mary Dinah Foundation, Thierno Samba Diallo · Action against Hunger View ↗

Who gave evidence

16 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Cynthia Rowe · Development director, High Commission in Abuja Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 2
Aisha Abdurrahman · Chief Executive Bridge for Women Development Initiative (BOWDI) 1
Andrew Mamedu · Country Director ActionAid Nigeria 1
Arjun Jain · Representative in Nigeria UNHCR 1
Bryan Weiner · Senior Regional Programme Manager, West Africa Search for Common Ground 1
Camilla Higgins · Director INGO Forum Nigeria 1
Chris Chijiutomi · Managing Director and Head of Africa British International Investment 1
Evelyn Mere · Country Director WaterAid Nigeria 1
Hamsatu Allamin · Founder Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development 1
Kate Foster OBE · Africa Director Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Mary Dinah · CEO and Founder Mary Dinah Foundation 1
Olalekan Yinusa · Executive Director for Policy, Research and Strat… Nigeria Governors' Forum 1
Saratu Joshua Pindar · Country Programme Co-ordinator CIVIC 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington · Minister of State for International Development a… Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Thierno Samba Diallo · Country Director Action against Hunger 1
Tog Gang · Senior Advisor for Peace and Conflict Mercy Corps 1