By Bunmi Yekini
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has strongly condemned a recent proposal by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, calling for amendments to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011, to penalise so-called “fake civil society organisations” allegedly misusing the law to blackmail public institutions.
In a statement issued in Lagos, MRA described the proposal as an attempt to discredit and weaken the FOI Act, which was enacted to ensure public access to information, promote transparency, and fight corruption.
“This proposal is not only ill-conceived but deeply troubling,” said Ayomide Eweje, MRA’s Programme Officer. “Suggesting punitive measures based on vague, subjective, and unsubstantiated claims of ‘misuse’ poses a huge risk of the Act becoming a tool for silencing journalists, researchers, civil society actors, and other citizens who legitimately seek information.”
Eweje criticised Dr. Orji’s claim that “fake NGOs” were using the FOI Act for blackmail, calling the argument illogical. “Everyone has a right to request information under the Act,” she said. “There is no need to pretend to be part of an NGO, fake or genuine. If public officials disclose requested information, there’s nothing left to blackmail them with. Such information becomes public and has no blackmail value.”
She added that if a public institution has valid reasons to withhold information, it cannot be blackmailed for refusing to provide it. “You can only complain of blackmail if you have done something wrong or even criminal,” Eweje stated. “And in that case, the appropriate response should not be to amend the law to shield wrongdoing but to ensure accountability.”
Eweje also pointed out that crimes such as blackmail and extortion are already covered under existing federal and state criminal laws, saying there is no need to alter the FOI Act to address such offenses.
“It is particularly disappointing that such a regressive call is coming from the head of NEITI, an agency supposed to foster transparency in Nigeria’s extractive industries,” she said. “Dr. Orji’s stance contradicts the global standards of openness NEITI claims to uphold and could damage its credibility both locally and internationally.”
MRA called on NEITI and other public institutions to focus on complying with their disclosure obligations under the FOI Act, build internal capacity to manage information requests effectively, and embrace a culture of transparency.
“MRA and its partners across different sectors and stakeholder groups around the country remain committed to defending the FOI Act,” Eweje declared. “We will resist any attempt to dilute its provisions or punish citizens for exercising their rights.”