In 2011, the Nigerian Press stole a win from the National Assembly. The Freedom of Information Act was finally signed into law giving everyone in Nigeria the right to request information “whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described.”
Simply put, every Nigerian got free access to demand information from any public officer or office in Nigeria about ANYTHING whether or not the person requesting the information has “any specific interest in the information or justifies his/her reasons for making the request.”
6 years after that Act came into existence, Nigeria has been burdened with a very sick President who has been on medical vacation for longer than anyone can joke about. Yet no one seems to know nor want to reveal what the particular nature of that illness, giving rise to speculations from every quarter imaginable. The level of secrecy within which this particular information has been shrouded will make Donald Trump go from white to green with envy.
This situation has led to the most outrageous claims being spread on every media platform imaginable. Some even intentionally warp headlines just for the clicks. Like this morning when a report was published claiming that the President has promised to resign if his health does not get better.
Ordinarily, such a repot should have been verified before being published. After all, confirming that information is a right guaranteed by the Freedom of Information Act.
But we suspect the media houses that published it were too underwhelmed by the likelihood of being stonewalled as a direct consequence of the many lee-ways contained in the Act.
The Freedom of Information Act 2011 gives all the official (or institution) of whom the request is made 7 days to decide whether or not to provide the correct information as well as an opportunity to extend for another 7 days where they require “consultations” or the information asked will “interfere with the operations” of their offices if they were to meet the original 7 days.
Still we decided to give it a try. And we chose what would be considered the most informal platform to ask since the Act allows a wide range of methods to request the information.
Below is what happened:
Step 1: Ask respectfully
Step 2: Patiently, wait for a response:
Easily, we avoided spreading #FakeNews.
Step 3: Be gracious and say thanks. And then, press for more information (because why not):
Step 4: Wait patiently again: Step 5: And when you don’t get the response you’re looking for…
Alright then.Thanks for your time! https://t.co/D429veZjcY
— Y! Online #WorldCup (@YNaija) August 10, 2017
You're welcome, YNaija! https://t.co/aucXr8fPuy
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) August 10, 2017
There, people is how to avoid spreading #FakeNews using your Freedom of Information rights.
Try it sometime. Minister Lai will be very proud.
Creative mind. Enthusiast. Learner. Multipotentialite. And here, an assistant editor.
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