NJOMACS

The central objective of this study was to evaluate the contemporary impact of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 on journalism practice. Specifically, it focused on assessing awareness levels, contributions to fair and accurate reporting, and barriers to effective utilisation among journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. A quantitative survey method was adopted, collecting data from 130 valid responses of registered journalists from the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) directory using structured questionnaire and simple random sampling. Key findings revealed moderate awareness (54.6%) and familiarity (45.4%) with the FOIA, yet only 26.9% had applied it in news production. Over 60% affirmed enhancement in reporting balance, accuracy, and quality when used, but utilisation was severely constrained by inadequate training (77.7%), political interference (70.8%), ineffective enforcement (68.5%), and institutional nonresponsiveness (60.7%). In conclusion, the FOIA holds transformative potential for investigative journalism but remains undermined by systemic institutional failures, limiting its role in democratic accountability. Recommendations include mandatory FOIA training in journalism curricula, establishment of newsroom FOIA desks, repeal of conflicting secrecy laws, and creation of an independent oversight body to enforce compliance and protect journalistic access.