In a move that re-inforces the suspicion of Nigerians, journalists were Wednesday barred from covering the public hearing on the controversial Control of Infectious Disease Bill currently before the House of Representatives.
Journalists who turned up to cover the event were turned back by officers from the office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who said they were acting on the instructions of the Chairman of the Health Services Committee, Hon Tanko Sununu and the Committee’s Clerk, Joyce Umeru.
According to the officials who hid their identities, they were told that only the Nigerian Television (NTA) and Channels Television were to be allowed to cover the public hearing.
The Bill sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamilla,
Pascal Obi, Chairman, House Committee on Health Institutions and Tanko Sununu, Chairman of the Committee on Health Services, the Bill seeks to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill.
It also makes 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.
The Bill came under heavy criticism for giving too much powers to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the management of infectious diseases and pandemic in the country in ways that could infringe on the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
It empowers the Director-General of the NCDC to be in charge of the administration of the new Act, notification of prescribed infectious diseases, surveillance, medical examination and treatment, vaccination post-mortem examination, destruction and disposal of infected animals, food and water, isolation of certain persons, prohibition or restriction of meetings, gatherings and public entertainments as well as control of occupation, trade or business.
One of the provisions of the bill stipulates that: “Except as otherwise provided by this Act, the Director-General of Nigerian Centre for Disease Control shall, subject to any general or special directions of the Minister, be responsible for the administration of this Act.
“The Director General may, subject to such conditions or restrictions as he thinks fit, appoint any public officer, officer of any statutory body; or employee of a prescribed institution, to be a Health Officer for the purposes of this Act or any particular provision of this Act.
“The Director General may require any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or carrier or contact of an infectious disease to submit to medical examination or medical treatment within or at such time, and at such place, as the Director General may determine.
“The Director General may order any person who is, or is suspected to be, a case or carrier or contact of an infectious disease to be detained and isolated in a hospital or other place for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director General may determine”.
Another provision of the Bill that particularly generated serious condemnation is the power to order certain persons to undergo compulsory vaccination or other prophylaxis. It stated that:
“In an outbreak or a suspected outbreak of any infectious disease in any area in Nigeria, the Director General may by order direct any person or class of persons not protected or vaccinated against the disease to undergo vaccination or other prophylaxis within such period as may be specified in the order.”