FG, EU, IDEA Push for Stronger Enforcement of Freedom of Information as Foundation for Nigeria’s Democracy
Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive without stronger guarantees for freedom of expression and access to information, stakeholders declared on Wednesday at the national conference commemorating International Human Rights Day 2025 in Abuja. The event, organised by International IDEA through the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, brought together senior government officials, civil society leaders, […]
Nigeria’s democracy cannot survive without stronger guarantees for freedom of expression and access to information, stakeholders declared on Wednesday at the national conference commemorating International Human Rights Day 2025 in Abuja.
The event, organised by International IDEA through the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme, brought together senior government officials, civil society leaders, media practitioners, and development partners to reflect on the theme “Our Everyday Essentials: Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.”
Delivering a keynote address, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice described access to information as “the oxygen of transparency and the lifeblood of democracy.”
He emphasised that no society can claim to uphold human rights when its citizens are denied information required to make informed decisions or hold leaders accountable.
“Freedom of expression is the right that enables all other rights. It allows citizens to voice opinions, question authority, and participate in public discourse,” he said, warning that misinformation and secrecy continue to undermine democratic governance in Nigeria.
Reflecting on more than a decade of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, the Minister acknowledged progress, but also a troubling gap between legislation and practice. Many MDAs still resist transparency, ignore FOI requests, or rely on outdated secrecy oaths. He stressed the need for institutional reforms, stronger compliance mechanisms, and consequences for violations.
A major highlight of the conference was the discussion of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2025 ruling, which affirmed that the FOI Act applies to all levels of government.
According to Dr Emmanuel, Project Manager for RoLAC’s Access-to-Information component, this ruling “removes the long-standing excuse by states claiming the FOI Act does not bind them.”
He noted that civil society networks, journalists, and officials now have renewed legal backing to demand accountability and push for uniform compliance nationwide.
He added that access to information is the right “that gives life to all other rights as affirmed by the AU and UN,” and is essential for strengthening democratic participation, environmental rights, and anticorruption efforts.
In his welcome remarks, International IDEA’s Head of Programme, Danladi Plang, highlighted strong correlations between free expression and broader human rights protections globally, citing UNESCO’s research demonstrating that nations with robust free-expression regimes tend to exhibit higher social equity and lower political exclusion.
He also underscored the importance of making laws accessible, noting that many police officers and citizens “do not even have access to the very laws that govern them,” a reality that fuels abuses and weakens enforcement.
The EU Ambassador, Gautier Mignot, celebrated the 77th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, urging Nigeria to strengthen mechanisms for investigating crimes against journalists and eliminate impunity.
He commended civil society and the press for their courage, sometimes exercised at personal risk, in defending democratic freedoms.
As conversations concluded, stakeholders agreed that Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The next decade of transparency, participants said, will depend on whether institutions demonstrate enough political will to fully implement the FOI Act and protect freedom of expression for all citizens.