The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has raised alarm over what it described as the growing abuse of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by fraudulent individuals and faceless groups posing as civil society or non-governmental organisations.

 

Speaking at a high-level roundtable to mark 14 years of the FOI Act in Abuja, NEITI’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, described the trend as “a dangerous weaponisation of a noble democratic law” aimed at blackmailing, harassing, and extorting public officials.

 

“Let there be no mistake: this is not activism; it is sabotage,” Dr. Orji declared.

“These fake NGOs and touts parade false identities, file FOI requests under misleading pretences, and then engage in media blackmail and threats to extort money. Their only mission is extortion. And it must stop.”

 

 

 

A statement from NEITI’s Deputy Director of Communications, Chris Ochonu, noted that the FOI Act — signed into law in 2011 — remains a milestone in Nigeria’s democracy, enabling citizens to demand accountability. However, NEITI warned that unless urgent reforms are enacted, the Act risks being turned into a tool of intimidation.

 

“At NEITI, we’ve responded to 72 FOI requests in the last decade, run a dedicated FOI portal, maintain proactive disclosure platforms, and are developing a NEITI Data Centre to deepen public access to credible data,” Orji said.

“But fake NGOs ignore these and resort to threats aimed at coercion and blackmail.”

 

 

 

To combat the trend, NEITI proposed key legal and institutional reforms, including:

 

Criminalising false FOI claims, blackmail, and identity fraud

 

Creating an independent oversight body to vet FOI requests

 

Establishing FOI units in all MDAs

 

Accelerating state-level FOI implementation

 

Launching civic education campaigns for responsible use of the Act

 

 

Dr. Orji also called on anti-corruption agencies — including the EFCC, ICPC, and Code of Conduct Bureau — to remain focused and avoid distractions from illegitimate actors.

 

“The FOI Act is not a blackmail licence. It is a promise of truth, openness, and democratic empowerment. We must protect that promise from abuse,” he stressed.

 

 

 

Other speakers at the event echoed NEITI’s concerns. Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), praised NEITI as a model of proactive transparency.

 

Dr. Erisa Sarki, Civil Society Representative on the NEITI Board and National Coordinator of Publish What You Pay, warned that the misuse of the FOI Act could erode public trust.

 

“We must not allow faceless actors to erode public trust in the FOI. It must remain a shield for truth, not a sword for deception,” she said.

 

 

 

The roundtable was organised by NEITI and CTA in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme, under the EU-funded Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria initiative.

 

RoLAC’s Programme Manager, Emmanuel Uche, reaffirmed the EU’s support for democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.

 

“The FOI Act is central to empowering citizens, ensuring justice, and strengthening governance,” he noted.

 

 

 

NEITI reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries and broader governance systems.