The Challenges of Implementing Freedom of Information Act by the Civil Society Organizations in Lagos state, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the challenges and difficulties encountered by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos State, while utilising the FoIA to access information. The study was predicated on two theories – Public Sphere, and Social Responsibility theories. The objectives, among other things, were to investigate and evaluate the duration odd time expended in accessing information under the FoIA and the challenges and difficulties encountered, while utilizing the FoIA. Interview schedule was used to elicit information from the three CSOs – SERAP, CLO, MRA purposively selected. Analysis revealed that the CSOs in Lagos state encountered challenges and difficulties in the areas of procedure, release of information, and the effect of the Official Secret Act 1962, amongst others. The study also found out, that majority of the information accessed under the FoIA by the CSOs in Lagos state were accessed outside the seven (7) days' timeframe stipulated by the FoIA in Section 4. Based on the forgoing, it was recommended, amongst others, that the difficulties and challenges identified by this study should be, urgently, presented or tabled before the appropriate quarters – Attorney general, who the law imbued with the supervisory function over the implementation of the FoIA; and to the National Assembly for amendment.