By Abiola Olawale
In a move that has ignited controversy, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for Nigeria’s National Register of Voters but slapped a N1.5 billion processing fee on the applicant.
The New Diplomat reports that the request originated from V-C Ottaokpuku & Associates, a prominent Abuja-based law firm led by public affairs analyst Vincent Ottaokpuku.
In a formal application dated October 8, 2025, the firm invoked provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022 to seek certified true copies of the full National Register of Voters.
INEC’s swift approval of the request came via a letter signed by Commission Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, referencing file number INEC/VR/CTCGM/33464/I.
However, the green light was immediately clouded by the eye-watering fee of N1,505,901,750 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira only), which the electoral body described as the “cost of production.”
“The Commission has approved your request for a copy of the National Register of Voters for the entire country and the existing polling Units in all the Electoral Wards in Nigeria pursuant to section 15 of the Electoral Act 2022,” the letter reads.
“You are hereby requested to pay the sum of One Billion, Five Hundred and Five Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Fifty Naira only (N1,505,901,750) being the cost of production of the above.
“Kindly pay the said amount into INEC Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) (www.remita.com) and present the proof of payment (e-receipt) to proceed with your request.”
