Section 9: Interpretation, etc.

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say-
"classified matter" means any information or thing which, under any system of security classification, from time to time, in use by or by any branch of the government, is not to be disclosed to the public and of which the disclosure to the public would be prejudicial to the security of Nigeria;
"Government" means the Government of the Federation;
"Minister" means the Minister of the government responsible for security and public safety;
"protected place" means-
(a) any naval, military or air force establishment in Nigeria, any other place in Nigeria used for or in connection with the production, storage or testing, by or on behalf of the government, of equipment designed or adapted for use for defence purposes, and any other building, structure or work in Nigeria used by the government for defence purposes; and
(b) any area in Nigeria or elsewhere for the time being designated by an order made by the Minister as being an area from which the public should be excluded in the interests of the security of Nigeria,
and includes a part of a protected place within the meaning of paragraph (a) or (b) of this definition;
"public officer" means a person who exercises or formerly exercised, for the purposes of the government, the functions of any office or employment under the State.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, classified matter remains classified matter notwithstanding that it is properly transmitted to, or obtained from, or otherwise dealt with, by a person acting on behalf of the Government of a State.