NEITI Raises Alarm Over Abuse of FOI Act by Fake NGOs, Touts

…Says Law Is Being Weaponized for Extortion; Calls for Reforms and Sanctions

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has issued a strong warning over what it described as the dangerous misuse of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act by faceless groups and self-acclaimed activists who are using the law as a tool to harass, blackmail, and extort public officials.

This disturbing development was highlighted at a high-level Roundtable organized to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the FOI Act, hosted at NEITI’s headquarters in Abuja. The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, delivered a keynote address where he condemned the rising trend of fraudulent FOI requests and the activities of impostors posing as civil society organisations (CSOs) and NGOs.

“Let there be no mistake: this is not activism—it is sabotage,” Dr. Orji stated. “These fake NGOs and touts use false identities and misleading FOI requests to threaten public servants and extort money. They are not interested in facts or transparency; their only mission is intimidation.”

He warned that such acts, if left unchecked, would erode public trust in the FOI Act, a landmark law passed in 2011 to enhance transparency and accountability in governance. According to him, NEITI has remained compliant with FOI provisions, responding to over 70 requests, maintaining a dedicated FOI portal, publishing annual progress reports, and making extensive disclosures available online.

Despite these efforts, Dr. Orji lamented that rogue actors continue to ignore available data and resort to coercion. He called for urgent reforms, including:

• Criminalizing false FOI claims and identity fraud.

• Creating an independent oversight mechanism for FOI requests.

• Establishing FOI Units in all MDAs with trained personnel.

• Promoting responsible civic education and nationwide FOI implementation.

NEITI also urged anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC, and Code of Conduct Bureau not to be distracted by the antics of fake activists. Dr. Orji emphasized that transparency must never be compromised, stating, “The FOI Act is a promise of truth. It must not become a weapon for deception.”

Other speakers at the event echoed his concerns. Engr. Faith Nwadishi, Executive Director of the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), praised NEITI for its model of proactive disclosure. Dr. Erisa Danladi Sarki of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) stressed the need for multi-stakeholder vigilance to safeguard the integrity of the FOI Act.

Mr. Emmanuel Uche, Programme Manager of the EU-funded RoLAC Programme, reaffirmed the EU’s support for democratic accountability, stating, “RoLAC is proud to partner with NEITI and others to ensure access to credible information and institutional transparency.”

The Roundtable brought together senior government officials, development partners, CSOs, and media stakeholders to chart a path forward in protecting the FOI Act from abuse.