Obstacles to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 in Nigeria

Abstract

The Freedom of Information Act is the law that gives citizens the right to access information from government institutions and agencies. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. This article examines the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011 in Nigeria and the changes that have been made since its enactment. The article reviews some recent cases on the FOI Act to underscore the efforts of the civil society organizations to use the Law as well as the conflicting judgments of the High Court on the Act. It highlights some of the obstacles to the effective implementation of the FOI Act, particularly non-compliance by government or public officials. The article recommends strategies to overcome these challenges and concludes that with political will, the objectives of the FOI Act will be realized.

Keywords: Freedom of information, access, records, secrecy, Law, expression