Fagbemi Calls FoI ‘Oxygen of Democracy’ As Stakeholders Demand Overhaul of Transparency Systems
Nigeria’s justice and governance institutions must urgently strengthen their transparency systems if the nation is to deepen democracy and uphold constitutional rights, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbami (SAN), has said.
Delivering a keynote at the International Human Rights Day national conference in Abuja, Wednesday, titled ‘Our Everyday Essentials: Freedom of Expression and Access to Information,’ the AGF stated that no democratic reform can succeed where secrecy, institutional resistance, or misinformation thrive.
“Access to information is the oxygen of transparency. Freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy,” he declared, underscoring the administration’s commitment to implementing the FoI Act and promoting greater openness across MDAs.
He acknowledged recent progress, including increased awareness of the FoI Act and a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2025 affirming the Act’s applicability across all levels of government.
However, he condemned persistent non-compliance, outdated secrecy practices and absence of sanctions for institutions that refuse to disclose public information.
RoLAC’s Component 3 Programme Manager, Dr. Emmanuel, provided an unflinching assessment of transparency deficits.
He argued that Nigeria’s democracy suffers when citizens cannot access information needed to demand accountability.
He cited examples of civil society actors using FOI requests to expose corruption and human rights violations but lamented that many agencies “still treat access to information as optional”.
He called for stronger enforcement structures, digitalisation of records and institutional courage to dismantle entrenched secrecy.
“Democracy collapses when the people cannot know how they are governed,” he warned.
International IDEA’s Head of Programme, Danladi Plang, highlighted the justice-sector implications of limited access to legal information.
He revealed that more than 90% of police officers trained by RoLAC had never seen the laws they are meant to enforce, illustrating how lack of access contributes to arbitrary arrests, human rights abuses and erosion of due process.
He emphasised that access to information must extend beyond political transparency to include accessible laws, policies and judicial documents for both law enforcement and citizens.
In his goodwill message, EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot linked freedom of expression and access to information directly to Nigeria’s commitments under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which marks 77 years this month.
He condemned threats against journalists and urged the Nigerian government to strengthen mechanisms for investigating attacks on the press.
Mignot praised Nigerian journalists and young people for their resilience and creativity in using digital tools to broaden civic participation and democratic discourse.
The conference underscored the urgent need for reform: a national transparency framework that enforces FoI compliance, digitalizes public records, protects journalists and empowers citizens at the margins of society.
