Now that it’s been confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is spying on its citizens through its frequent request for user information of Nigerians from Internet and Telecoms Companies (a report that has not been rebutted by the FG) as reported by International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA).

We believe it’s high time the federal government of Nigeria fulfiled its own part of its deal with Nigerians. The FG should urge its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to fulfil all freedom of information requests that have been rejected by them.

The freedom of information bill which was signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, has been inactive in most MDA’s as FOI requests of citizens has been turned down based on frivolous reasons.

This is worse at state levels where they claim not to have domesticated such laws in their state. Making an inference from the request made by the federal government to internet and Telecoms Companies on Nigerians user information which is granted by them despite being an infringement on citizens rights.

It is unbelievable that similar requests by Nigerians under the FOI request to government and its agencies are always treated with laxity and mostly turned down despite being in compliance with the freedom of information law of Nigeria.

This has been greeted with criticisms from civil society organisations especially the Media Rights Agenda, an NGO with focus on freedom of expression, access to information and media development/persecutions which has consistently inducted several MDA’S and individuals into its FOI hall of shame launched in July 2017.

Despite the illegality involved in Government spying on its citizens, there is a lesson for the government to learn that legal information requests made by citizens under the purview of the FOI should not be rebuffed as its the law, same way it’s user information requests are granted by Telecoms Companies.