CSOs plan legislation on security regulations during outbreak of disease

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have concluded a research report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on citizens, saying they will collaborate with the National Assembly to come up with a bill on security regulations during the outbreak of diseases in the country.

The report, which was funded by TrustAfrica and African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, raised a lot of challenges that affected different aspects of citizens’ lives across the globe, including Nigeria and the African continent.

Presenting the document in Abuja, the Executive Director, Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah, said the implementation of full lockdown measures in order to contain the spread of the ailment led to the use of security operatives to muzzle the rights of citizens.

Osasah explained, “the report can be used to generate inputs for drafting legislative Bill for an Act to address the identified issues and concerns; demand and enforce security sector accountability during and after public health emergencies.”

He, therefore, disclosed the law enforcement agents killed 18 persons, which means, more than the 12 the coronavirus had done at the time, adding a total of 105 complaints bordering on violations of citizens’ rights, illegal arrest, and detentions from 24 states.

“Vulnerable groups such as persons living with disabilities suffered neglect as they found it extremely difficult to meet their medical, physical and other needs, especially in Lagos, where only 2,000 were reached by government’s palliatives.”

Also, Mr. Clement Ikeoba noted, in India, people were flogged for non-compliance of international protocols, adding, this was so to bring about enforcement, and it helped in a way to check those that would disobey the rules and orders.

Contributing, David Akoji of the National Orientation Agency, expressed dismay that during the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not carried along in terms of enlightenment of the citizens, and this shows that we were not prepared to contain the epidemic.