A controversial bill sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila , and two of his colleagues, seeking to empower the Federal Government to convert any property in the country , including private properties, to isolation centres has continued to attract criticisms.
Apart from members of the House who protested that they were not served copies while it was read at plenary on Tuesday , before it hurriedly passed first and second readings on the same day , lawyers and many other Nigerians have described the bill as draconian and suspicious.
Also on Friday, the bill trended on Twitter as there were accusations that the sponsors plagiarised the law on disease control in Singapore. Those who made the accusations, included the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, which alleged that over 90 per cent of the content was plagiarised from Singapore ’s law.
The bill, titled, ‘ Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020 ’, obtained by
Saturday PUNCH on Thursday, was sponsored by Gbajabiamila, Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu. They said the proposed law was designed to prevent the spread or possible outbreak of infectious diseases .
This is coming amid the shortage of isolation centres in the country owing to the increasing cases of the coronavirus across the states . As of Friday, the number of cases stood at 2,170 , with number of deaths at 68, while 319 have so far recovered . Across the world , the number of cases rose to 3.3 million , with 237, 440 deaths and about 1, 069, 023 recoveries.
The cases were Kano (92 ); FCT (36 ); Lagos (30 ); Gombe ( 16); Bauchi ( 10); Delta (8 ); Oyo ( 6); Zamfara (5 ); Sokoto ( 5); Ondo (4); Nasarawa (4 ); Kwara ( 3); Edo ( 3); Ekiti ( 3); Borno ( 3); Yobe ( 3); Adamawa ( 2) and one case in each of Niger, Imo, Ebonyi, Rivers and Enugu.
The new bill, which passed first and second readings at the plenary on Tuesday , was described as, ‘A bill for an act to repeal the Quarantine Act ( 1926) and enact the Control of Infectious DiseaseAct, make provisions relating to quarantine and make regulations for preventing the introduction into and spread in Nigeria of dangerous infectious diseases , and for other related matters .’
On Thursday, the Director - General , Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu , had said at the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 briefing that there was need for more isolation centres as the number of cases surge.
He said , “ Concerning the availability of bed spaces for the management of patients , there is no doubt that we are struggling in certain places especially in Lagos State, and to an extent Kano State and Abuja . But the biggest challenge right now is in Lagos where bed spaces are really tight .
“ Across the country we have about 3,500 bed spaces identified as available for coronavirus patients but in Lagos we are already struggling . So, we are going to work with them to keep trying to make more spaces available. ”
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire , also at the briefing appealed to people to make their properties available , noting that there was already a surge and that with the plan of the NCDC to do two million tests, there would be more cases, which would give rise to the need for more isolation centres.
He said , “ I’ m appealing not only to state governments but to citizens to make properties available temporarily for this purpose .”

Meanwhile , if passed into law by the two chambers of the National Assembly and assented to by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ) , the minister of health would be empowered by law to declare any premises to be an isolation centre for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of infectious diseases .
Section 15 ( 1) of the bill reads, “ The minister may, for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of an infectious disease, by notification in the Gazette declare any premises to be an isolation area. ”
Subsection 2 reads , “ A notification under subsection ( 1) shall be effective until the expiration of such period as may be specified in the notification or until it is revoked by the minister, whichever occurs first . ”
Subsection 3 reads , “ The Director General may, in relation to an isolation area, by written order prohibit any person or class of persons from entering or leaving the isolation area without the permission of the Director General ; prohibit or restrict the movement within the isolation area of any person or class of persons; prohibit or restrict the movement of goods; require any person or class of persons to report at specified times and places and submit to such medical examinations, answer such questions and submit to such medical treatment as the Director General thinks fit; authorise the destruction, disposal or treatment of any goods , structure , water supply , drainage and sewerage system or other matter within the isolation area known or suspected to be a source of infection; and prohibit , restrict , require or authorise the carrying out of such other act as may be prescribed .”
Proposed law empowers police to arrest , quarantine violators without warrant
Subsection 4 reads , “ A Health Officer or a police officer may take any action that is necessary to give effect to an order under subsection (3) , ” while subsection 5 reads , “ Any person who, without reasonable excuse , contravenes an order under subsection ( 3) shall be guilty of an offence. ”
Subsection 6 reads, “ A person who leaves or attempts to leave or is suspected of having left an isolation area in contravention of an order under subsection ( 3) may be arrested without warrant by any Health Officer or by any police officer, authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director General . ”
While subsection 7 reads , “ Goods brought into or removed from an isolation area in contravention of an order under subsection (3 ) shall be forfeited to the Government and may be seized, dealt with and disposed of in accordance with section 55( 2) and ( 3) as if those goods were any substance or matter referred to in section 55( 1) ( c). ”
Bill prescribe jail term for violation of NCDC quarantine
Meanwhile , Section 79 ( 3) also prescribes a N 500, 000 fine and six -month jail term for persons who violate the quarantine restriction or refuse to take vaccinations in case of an outbreak or a suspected outbreak of an infectious disease in Nigeria such as the ravaging COVID- 19.
“ The Minister may, in making any regulations , provide that any contravention of or failure to comply with any regulation shall be an offence punishable with a fine not less than N 500, 000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
The Speaker said at the plenary on Tuesday that coronavirus pandemic had exposed the archaic nature of the Quarantine Act and the incapacitation of the NCDC, noting that the proposed law was to empower the NCDC.
The Section 13 of the bill also sought to give the NCDC Director -General the power to order the isolation of people having or suspected to have an infectious disease for a period of time subject to the discretion of the DG . It added that such persons , including those who have recently recovered or being treated for such a disease, remain in isolation or be treated in their own dwelling place.
Also in Section 17, under Abatement of Overcrowding , the bill prescribes that if in the opinion of the NCDC DG , a building is so overcrowded as to expose the occupants to the risk of infection by an infectious disease, the DG may by written notice direct the owner or occupier of the building to abate the overcrowding or to close the building or part thereof within the time specified in the notice .
Meanwhile , Section 68, under General Penalties , states that any person guilty of an offence under the Act for which no penalty is expressly provided shall in the case of a first offence be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N 100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both .
But, in the case of a second or subsequent offence, such offenders will be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N200 ,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both .
The bill listed no fewer than 45 diseases . The first schedule includes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome , Avian Influenza, Campylobacteriosis , Chikungunya , Fever, Cholera, Dengue Fever, Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, Diphtheria, Encephalitis , Viral Haemophilus Influenzae Type b Disease, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Hepatitis .
Others are Viral Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Legionellosis , Leprosy , Malaria, Measles , Melioidosis, Meningococcal Disease, Mumps, Nipah Virus Infection, Paratyphoid , Pertussis, Plague, Pneumococcal Disease ( Invasive), Poliomyelitis, Rubella, Salmonellosis and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome .
Also on the list are Swine Influenza, Typhoid , Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever , Sexually Transmitted Infections — Chlamydia Genital Infection; Genital Herpes , Gonorrhea; Non- Gonococcal Urethritis; and Syphilis .
The second schedule of diseases include ; Dangerous Infectious Diseases, Plague, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , Yellow Fever, Coronavirus disease, Diphtheria, Measles , Polio , and Meningitis.
Senate considers own bill Tuesday , targets first, second readings
Barring any last minute changes , the Senate will on Tuesday introduce and begin necessary legislation on a similar bill that would strengthen the Quarantine Law and give legal backing to the NCDC to effectively carry out its responsibilities .
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, Senator Chukwuka Utazi , in an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday, said the details of the Quarantine Bill would be unfolded on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday .
He , however , explained that the proposed legislation was different from the one currently before the House of Representatives.
“ The Senate already has a bill on the issue but we have not been able to work on it because of the lockdown. We are already consulting widely on it to make sure that we get things done ,” Utazi said .
He said members of the House of Representatives should not be blamed for the provisions in their version of the Quarantine Bill, adding that the lawmakers were only working hard to resolve an obvious problem .

source : https://punchng.com/coronavirus-controversial-bill-empowers-fg-to-convert-private-properties-to-isolation-centres/

"Charity begins at home"..they should start with their abuja mansions and the ones in their states owned by them.

This people sef...

Nigeria has 2000 cases and they already want to be converting people's home to isolation centers, A MULTI BILLION isolation center in Kogi was washed away by rain recently.

When they release money for healthcare, politicians pocket it.

God is watching the film you are acting, when he's had enough he will shout "CUT"

This bill is aimed at usurping the buildings belonging to the common man. There are many unoccupied buildings nationwide owned by political bigwigs. Leadership should be by example. Lubbish

Meanwhile , Section 79 ( 3) also prescribes a N 500, 000 fine and six -month jail term for persons who violate the quarantine restriction or refuse to take vaccinations in case of an outbreak or a suspected outbreak of an infectious disease in Nigeria such as the ravaging COVID- 19.

Compulsory vaccines from WHO It will not be better for FG, this is the reason they are giving fake increasing confirmed cases, Nigerians citizens are MSNgone

This politicians most be heartless after Pucketting billions & refuse to build up the health care facilities, the are planning to convert people's houses to isolatation centers, people we know if given this buildings, the will loot what is kept to fumigate this houses after use,& leave the owner to suffer it alone

Ok

After bastardizing Nigerian healthcare system making our best medical brains to flee abroad? After they've been seeking healthcare in foreign countries with taxpayer monies? After all the COVID19 donations?

It will never be well with any of the present crop of leaders.They will all face the dilapidated healthcare facilities they allow to rot.What rubbish!

donbachi:
"Charity begins at home"..they should start with their abuja mansions and the ones in their states owned by them.

They wont do it sir.These people are just sheer wicked.You see their zombies are not talking now because they know the slavery is becoming unbearable.

They should go first

helinues:
Ok

Ok what? They rudderless government should go ahead? Guess your house is good enough? The slavemasters are already knocking.Its either you fight or be a victim.

They had better leave private properties alone.

Whatever happens to all those seized properties.
They could also make use of stadia across the towns if need be

Racoon:
Ok what? They rudderless government should go ahead? Guess your house is good enough? The slavemasters are already knocking.Its either you fight or be a victim.

Time na money my brother

Mhen......things are fast getting out of hands

What a pity!! Nigeria sells crude oil for 53yrs and yet it couldn't take care of its citizen for just 3month.
What a country!