Two days ago, a new bill was fronted by Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Rather suspiciously, the Speaker wanted the bill swiftly passed in the House of Representatives without all the lawmakers' consent, as reported by Vanguard.
Asides from the fact that the bill was plagiarised from the Singapore Infectious Diseases Act 1977, it seeks to give the Director-General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control power to detain any suspicious person and forcefully test the person for as long as they please.
Known as the Infectious Diseases Act, it is supposed to create a legal framework for the federal government to manage the special circumstances surrounding infectious disease outbreaks like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which at last count had claimed 44 lives across Nigeria.
The bill is supposed to provide an updated legislative basis for the government’s anti-pandemic efforts, replacing the National Quarantine Act of 2004, which many have identified as the cause of least some of the FG’s initial flat-footed response to COVID-19.
The 44-page bill perused by MyNigeria.com is truly dictatorial in approach, vesting so much power in the DG of the NCDC to test dead bodies and determine cause of death against will; test anybody suspected to carry a disease; vaccinate, restrict the right to free association and several humanitarian free wills guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.
The bill has hurriedly scaled second reading and can scale third reading if nothing is done before June 4th 2020.
Nigerians have trended this bill all day on Twitter and are not willing to grant the NCDC rights to their lives or a forced vaccine.
#StoptheNCDCBill
— Medical Journalist Dr. Kemi Olunloyo (@KemiOlunloyo) April 30, 2020
The only bill we need right now is the #COVID19 stimulus bill that will allow each NIGERIAN to receive N100,000 a month out of the $3.5B IMF money Osinbajo got us from the IMF. It is the right of every NIGERIAN during this Lockdown period.#IJCovid19
People perish where there is lack of knowledge....
— Thereal_s_o_g (@Thereal_s_o_g) April 30, 2020
This is like taking away out fundamental human rights
The bill gives the DG or his enforcement officer the authority to seize anyone walking on the streets whom he suspects of having an infectious disease.#StopTheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/u6VcYZVovs
#thinkingoutloud
— Peniel Ijeoma (@peniel4glory) April 30, 2020
Bill Gates has a controversial global mandatory vaccination agenda that a large number of the people are against. Bill also funds NCDC.
New NCDC bill wants to also make vaccination mandatory. Kinda fishy. #StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/I4390iUWgm
The bill violates-
— Hephzibah Christly #theSpiritualWarrior (@Hefzibuh) April 30, 2020
The Right to Life;
To Personal Liberty;
Freedom from Degrading and Inhumane Treatment:
Right to Personal and Family Life
Right to Privacy
The Right to Acquire and Own Property
Freedom of Movement;
The Freedom of Religion#stoptheNCDCbill
Y'all need to chill with this #StoptheNCDCBill
— ????s??? ??? ????™? (@OvieSheikh) April 30, 2020
I don't see anything wrong in asking people to get cleared at the airport before they come into the country, at least NCDC officials will be there for the service. And please what's wrong in vaccination? pic.twitter.com/LjPykhiJ4a
Ur now trending #StoptheNCDCBill , but when Pastor Chris warned us about "force vaccination" we all abuse him on this same street.
— sAgene???? (@Agen_zy) April 30, 2020
Twitter ng need to apologize to him. pic.twitter.com/XM5AmjsjtN
Nigerian Police Officer ????? Mbanuuuu..... #StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/r0wUfbEbvt
— SeyiB (@SaintSeyiB) April 30, 2020
Such sensitive bill that affects the future of the nation should be given time for due debates by stake holders Not rushed through 2nd reading under 2hours. The govt means well but I smell smoked fish #StoptheNCDCBill
— T Sharp (@iamtsharp) April 30, 2020
The one being circled and shared about the vaccination are the usual requirements when you travel - Your Yellow Card. Should be made necessary but not forced.
— Shittu Kofoworola (@KfCuteOne) April 30, 2020
You see these 4 sections attached should be the major reasons why why we need to #StoptheNCDCBill pic.twitter.com/BIPVly2TaQ
Section 15 of the bill affords the DG and the minister of health the privileges to take over the private property of Nigerians, and turn them into isolation centers#StoptheNCDCBill
— PSHEGS (@pshegs) April 30, 2020
Vaccines should really be optional
— Juliet Orjiogo (@Babilicious_J) April 30, 2020
I therefore say no to forceful Vaccine. Our Lawmakers should do better than that.#StoptheNCDCBill
#StoptheNCDCBill#StoptheNCDCBill#StoptheNCDCBill
