Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has warned against criminalising access to information through the amendment of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011.
MRA in a statement by it’s Programme Officer Ms. Ayomide Eweje, said the reported proposal by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, seeking amendments to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to impose punitive measures on civil society organizations allegedly misusing the law is a dangerous attempt to undermine the right to access information and weaken Nigeria’s transparency framework.
The proposal according to MRA is “ill-conceived and deeply troubling,” warning that it risks turning the FOI Act—designed to promote openness, transparency, and accountability—into a tool for silencing legitimate information seekers, including journalists, researchers, and civil society groups.
“We reject any narrative that seeks to criminalise the exercise of a fundamental right under the guise of protecting public institutions,” Eweje said, adding that “If public institutions are fully compliant with the FOI Act, there would be no room for blackmail. The solution lies in institutional transparency, not legislative overreach.”
Ms. Eweje dismissed NEITI’s claims that “fake NGOs” were blackmailing public institutions using the FOI Act, calling the argument baseless and illogical. “Every individual has the right to request information under the FOI Act. There is no requirement to act on behalf of a real or fictitious NGO. Furthermore, information released under the Act becomes publicly available and cannot be used as leverage for blackmail,” she noted.
She emphasised that blackmail and extortion are already criminalised under existing Nigerian laws, making it unnecessary—and potentially dangerous—to introduce new penalties into the FOI Act. “Introducing vague punitive measures could pave the way for suppressing critical voices and shielding officials involved in misconduct,” she added.
MRA expressed particular disappointment that such a proposal originated from NEITI, an agency tasked with fostering transparency in Nigeria’s extractive sector. “Dr. Orji’s position contradicts the very principles of openness and accountability that NEITI is meant to uphold,” Ms. Eweje stated.
The organisation urged NEITI and all public bodies to focus on meeting their obligations under the FOI Act, build internal capacity for handling information requests, and promote a culture of openness.
“MRA and our partners across Nigeria remain resolute in defending the FOI Act against any attempt to dilute its effectiveness or penalise citizens for exercising their rights,” Ms. Eweje said.
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