PPDC Introduces AI Platform to Strengthen Freedom of Information Compliance

The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has launched an artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to improve compliance with Nigeria’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and simplify citizens’ access to government-held information.

The digital platform, named the Freedom of Information Automation System (FOIAS), was unveiled on Thursday during the 2026 Access to Information Conference held in Abuja.

The conference, themed “Digital Transparency: Harnessing Technology for FOI Compliance in Nigeria,” attracted officials from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), civil society organisations, media professionals, development partners, legal practitioners and technology experts.

Delivering a presentation titled “15 Years of FOI and 10 Years of FOI Ranking: Achievements, Challenges and Digital Future,” PPDC Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Abagi, said the platform was developed to address persistent obstacles that have hindered effective implementation of the FOI Act.

She observed that despite the law being in force for more than 15 years, many Nigerians still encounter difficulties obtaining public information because of delayed responses, inconsistent compliance and weak reporting practices among government institutions.

According to Abagi, the focus should now shift from debating the importance of access to information to developing practical systems that make transparency more efficient and sustainable.

“The future of access to information lies not only in legislation and advocacy, but also in innovation and technology,” she said.

She explained that FOIAS provides a centralised portal through which citizens can submit and monitor Freedom of Information requests to public institutions.

The system, she added, will also allow ministries, departments and agencies to track response rates, identify compliance gaps and assess their performance through digital dashboards.

Beyond processing requests, Abagi said the platform would establish a national database of information requests and official responses, making public records more accessible to journalists, researchers and civil society organisations.

She described the initiative as a significant step towards replacing cumbersome manual procedures with technology-driven systems capable of supporting real-time accountability.

“FOIAS represents more than a digital platform. It represents a shift from manual processes to smart systems, from fragmented compliance monitoring to real-time accountability,” she stated.

Abagi stressed that the project should be viewed as a governance reform initiative with the potential to improve transparency, strengthen anti-corruption efforts, enhance procurement oversight and deepen citizens’ participation in governance.

She noted that PPDC’s annual assessment of compliance with the FOI Act has shown gradual progress over the past decade, with the latest report recording about a 20 per cent increase in proactive disclosure of information by public institutions.

The assessment, she explained, involves submitting information requests to hundreds of MDAs and evaluating their responses based on legal obligations under the FOI Act, including response timelines, quality of information released, proactive disclosure and statutory reporting to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

According to her, the largely manual nature of the assessment highlighted the need for a technology-based solution, leading to the development of FOIAS.

She said the platform is expected to reduce duplication, improve record management and make access to public information faster and more efficient.

Abagi disclosed that PPDC is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Justice to facilitate the adoption of the platform across public institutions.

She added that discussions were ongoing to extend FOI compliance monitoring beyond federal agencies to state and local government institutions.

Calling for greater collaboration, she urged government agencies, civil society organisations, the media, academia and technology innovators to work together in promoting openness and accountability.

“The question before us is no longer whether transparency matters. The question is whether we are willing to build the systems, institutions and partnerships necessary to make transparency the norm rather than the exception,” she said.