Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the International Press Centre (IPC) have called for stronger enforcement of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, warning that poor compliance by public institutions is creating information gaps that enable misinformation and disinformation to thrive.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a multi-stakeholder conference organized by MRA and IPC in Lagos on 28 September 2026, to commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2026.
The conference was held under the theme, “Freedom of Information in the Age of Disinformation: Why Transparency Matters More Than Ever,” and brought together journalists, media professionals, civil society organizations, lawyers, and other stakeholders.
The participants examined the implementation of the FOI Act, 2011, and the roles of the media, civil society, legal practitioners and public institutions in strengthening access to information, transparency and accountability.
In his welcome address, Executive Director of the IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, said combating disinformation could not be reduced to asking citizens to “check the facts.”
He stressed that public institutions had a responsibility to make credible information available, explain decisions clearly and respond appropriately to legitimate requests for information.
According to him, the challenge was not merely whether information existed, but whether systems for accessing, verifying and using public information were sufficiently strong to support democratic accountability.
The participants, however, expressed concern that despite the FOI Act being in existence for more than 15 years, compliance by public institutions across all levels of government remained largely poor.
They said many public agencies continued to refuse or delay responses to requests for information, deny requests without legitimate reasons, and fail to publish information as required by law proactively.
They also identified widespread ignorance of the provisions of the FOI Act among public officials and members of the public, as well as a culture of secrecy in some public institutions, as major obstacles to effective implementation.
The participants noted that delays in responding to FOI requests particularly affected investigative journalism, public-interest reporting, civic monitoring and other activities requiring timely information.
They further observed that the absence of timely and reliable information from government institutions creates information gaps that make it more difficult for citizens, journalists and other stakeholders to verify claims and distinguish accurate information from misinformation and disinformation.
The communiqué also highlighted the increasing volume and speed of information circulating through digital platforms, stressing that access to authoritative and verifiable public information had become increasingly important to public discourse and accountability.
The stakeholders expressed concern over inadequate attention to the gender dimensions of FOI implementation, noting that women and other marginalized groups often face additional barriers to accessing information and participating fully in transparency and accountability processes.
They also identified the lack of effective sanctions for non-compliance with the FOI Act as a factor contributing to a culture of impunity among public institutions.
Consequently, the participants resolved to make greater and more strategic use of the FOI Act in investigative journalism, civic monitoring, research and advocacy.
They also resolved to strengthen collaboration among media organizations, legal practitioners and civil society groups in using the law to investigate public-interest issues, monitor government programs and expenditure, counter misinformation and promote accountability.
The participants further resolved to increase public awareness of the right of access to information, document experiences of using the FOI Act and pursue legal remedies, including litigation, where necessary to enforce compliance, particularly in cases involving wrongful denial of information.
The conference called on governments at all levels to demonstrate stronger commitment to effective implementation of the FOI Act and ensure that public institutions comply with their obligations under the law.
It specifically urged public institutions to establish dedicated FOI desks staffed by trained personnel and to proactively publish a wide range of information in accordance with Sections 2(3) and 2(4) of the Act.
They were also urged to improve record-keeping and information management systems to ensure that requested information could be identified and accessed promptly, while providing information in formats accessible to different categories of information seekers.
The media was urged to make more systematic use of the FOI Act as a tool for investigative and public-interest journalism and strengthen journalists’ capacity to formulate, submit and follow up on information requests.
Civil society organizations were also called upon to intensify public enlightenment, monitoring and advocacy on the implementation of the FOI Act and support citizens in exercising their right of access to information.
The communiqué urged media and civil society organizations to strengthen collaboration in monitoring compliance with the law and documenting cases of wrongful denial, delays and other barriers to accessing information.
The participants called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise his oversight responsibilities more rigorously and issue appropriate directives against officials and institutions that persistently and wilfully violate the provisions of the FOI Act.
They also urged the judiciary to expedite hearings and judgments in FOI cases to ensure that information eventually disclosed through litigation remains timely and relevant.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was urged to intensify public enlightenment campaigns on the right of access to information and the provisions of the FOI Act, particularly at the grassroots.
The conference further called for gender-responsive approaches to FOI implementation to address barriers faced by women and other marginalized groups.
It urged all stakeholders, particularly public institutions, the media and civil society organizations, to prioritize transparency and proactive disclosure of accurate information as a critical means of combating misinformation and disinformation.
Public institutions and other relevant stakeholders were also encouraged to leverage digital technologies to improve the publication, accessibility, storage and dissemination of information without creating additional barriers to access.
The participants reaffirmed that the right of access to information remains central to transparency, accountability, public participation and democratic governance.
They stressed that, in an information environment increasingly affected by misinformation and disinformation, timely access to credible information held by public institutions was more important than ever.
The participants commended MRA and IPC for their continued efforts to promote access to information, media freedom, transparency and accountability in Nigeria, and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts to advance effective implementation of the FOI Act.
They described the public’s right to know as a cornerstone of democracy, good governance and a healthy information environment in the age of disinformation.
