Open Data Initiatives and Public Sector Transparency in Nigeria: An Analysis of the OPEN Nigeria Portal

Open government data initiatives are increasingly adopted globally as mechanisms for enhancing public sector transparency, enabling civic accountability, and stimulating data-driven innovation. This study analyses the implementation and outcomes of Nigeria's open data initiative through the OPEN Nigeria portal, examining portal content quality, usage patterns, stakeholder engagement, and contribution to transparency objectives. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a content analysis of 1,200 datasets published on the portal between 2020 and 2024 with a survey of 95 civil society organisations, journalists, and developers who are registered portal users. Content analysis assessed dataset completeness, timeliness, machine-readability, and licensing clarity using the Open Data Institute's maturity framework. Survey data investigated actual use of portal data, barriers to uptake, and perceived contributions to accountability objectives. Findings reveal that 61 percent of portal datasets are incomplete, 44 percent have not been updated within the past 24 months, and fewer than 20 percent meet full machine-readability standards. Portal usage is concentrated among a small group of civil society researchers, with minimal uptake by local government bodies or the general public. The study identifies structural governance and institutional incentive gaps undermining open data sustainability in Nigeria. Keywords: open data, e-governance, transparency, OPEN Nigeria, public sector data.