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Aigbokhan President, the Executive Director of Freedom of Information (FoI) Counsel has disclosed that the freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
grants every Nigerian citizen the right to request and access records held by government agencies, public entities, and some private service providers.
Aigbokhan made the disclosure at a one day workshop, themed, “FOIA Surgery For CSOs & Media” organized by FOI Counsel/Rural Development Information and Legal Advocacy Centre (RUDILAC), with the support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral
Assistance (International IDEA)
Aigbokhan, in his lecture titled, “What is Freedom of Information?” pointed out that the core purpose of the Freedom of Information Act is to make public records and information freely available and promote an open democratic society.
According to him, the FOIA Act 2011 allows citizens to access information held by public entities to promote accountability and transparency.
He said he has advocated for this right, providing legal representation and capacity building to enforce the FOI Act and make public records more accessible.
He also told the journalists and members of the CSOs present at the workshop, that FOIA enhances accountability, by allowing citizens to see what the government is doing, adding that the Act serves as a crucial tool for ensuring accountability and fighting corruption.
“The Act grants every citizen the right to request access to records held by government agencies, promoting transparency and accountability.
Aigbokhan said that as the FOI leads counsel, he has been involved in cases to enforce the FOI Act, such as the case that established the FOIA’s applicability to all tiers of government, which was a significant victory for transparency in Nigeria.
“Earlier this year, Nigeria’s Supreme Court affirmed that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act applies across all levels of government reinforcing citizens’ right to access information.
On 11 April 2025, presisly, the Court held that the FOI Act binds not just federal ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) but also all 36 state governments.
“The judgment overturns a 2018 Benin City Court of Appeal decision that had confined the Act’s application to federal institutions – effectively entrenching widespread non-compliance at the state level.
“The Supreme Court’s decision underlined that the FOI Act was enacted to promote transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance – principles that they declared must not be constrained by jurisdictional boundaries.
“This decision represents a step forward for democratic governance, with implications for the protection of citizens’ rights at the state level.”, he declared.
In his presentation titled “How To File An Information Request” Comrade Agho Omobude stated that to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in Nigeria, you must submit a written request to the relevant public institution, detailing the information you seek and your preferred response format.
According to him, the request can be submitted electronically (e.g., email, online form) or by letter.
“You can also make an oral request to an authorized official, who will then reduce it to writing. Before submitting, check the institution’s website for published information to avoid unnecessary requests.
“Before You File, Check the Website First, see if the information you need is already available on the public institution’s official website.
“Understand your needs, so as to be
as detailed as possible in describing the information you want. Think about the type of records you are looking for, such as reports, files, or emails.
“Identify the right institution, and
send your request to the specific public institution that has custody of the information”.
Omobude also disclosed that filing of Written Request, was the most common method, adding that you can send a letter to the institution or use an online form or email if available.
Oral Request, Omobude said, “you can make an oral request to an authorized official, who is then required to put it in writing and provide you with a copy.
“What you request should include, first of all, Your Details: Include your name, address, and contact information. Description of Information: Clearly describe the information you are seeking in as much detail as possible”, he said.
The third lecturer, Kokoye Blessing presented a paper titled”Agency Response and FOI Advisor”