Chidinma Iroegbu
The EU CSO-Bridge Strengthening Project, in support of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme of International IDEA, hosted a special radio session to mark International Human Rights Day 2025, focusing on freedom of expression and access to information as essential to democracy.
Speaking during the broadcast on December 9, 2025, Dr. Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, Project Manager for Criminal Justice Reform at International IDEA, said access to information and freedom of expression “are not privileges reserved for a few, but fundamental human rights and pillars of any true democracy.” He noted that the rights citizens use daily movement, speech, and information sharing form the backbone of public dialogue and democratic stability.
Badejogbin warned that democratic foundations weaken when peaceful expression is suppressed. He said the upcoming national conference convened by the ROLAC Programme aims to address the legal, policy, technological, and societal barriers that restrict free expression in Nigeria. “Our intention is not to attack institutions, but to strengthen systems,” he said, stressing that open dialogue and constructive criticism are tools for transparency and progress.
Also speaking was Dr Emmanuel Uche, Project Manager for Anti-Corruption at International IDEA, who said the conference comes at a decisive moment for Nigeria’s democratic accountability. He noted that while the Freedom of Information Act has existed for more than a decade, its impact depends on actual compliance. The gathering, he said, will examine institutional gaps, political resistance, and technological hurdles limiting access to public information.
He added that civil society organisations and digital platforms have expanded citizen engagement through public finance tracking, whistleblowing, and project monitoring, but more coordinated reforms are needed. “The objective is not to apportion blame, but to strengthen collaboration and secure the information rights of citizens,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Bodejogbin emphasised that access to the law itself remains a struggle for many Nigerians, including judges, lawyers, and law students. He noted that legal information must never be locked away from the public. “With the right legal information, a society can unlock economic growth, strengthen institutions, and empower its people,” he said.
He announced that the National Conference on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information will be held tomorrow at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, from 10 a.m., and will be open to the public. The aim, he said, is to empower citizens to understand their rights and the systems meant to protect them.
Responding to listeners’ questions, the speakers highlighted the need to simplify laws, translate them into local languages, and build functional public information platforms. On balancing free expression with hate speech, they stressed that freedom must be exercised responsibly, as accountability applies to all forms of communication.
They urged listeners to pay attention, noting that “information is power” and is essential for understanding governance, demanding accountability, and protecting one’s rights.