The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it is not aware of the Control of Infectious Disease Bill but seeks to work with the House of Representative on that.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, said this during the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on COVID-19, on Thursday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Bill for an Act to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Control of Infectious Diseases Act has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, sought to empower NCDC and make it more proactive.

Leading the debate, Gbajabiamila said that the NCDC had very little powers to carry out its mandate though it had great professionals.

Gbajabiamila said the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill sought to empower the NCDC and make it more proactive and not just reactive. Ihekweazu said:

“ I saw the bill like you all did on social media. I think the House of Representative members are doing their best to come up with solutions – new laws; so, I take it positively.

“Of course, the bill requires more consultation. I am personally not in favour of drafting a bill in the middle of a crisis.

 “Let’s get out of crisis and then use the momentum to engage all stakeholders to come up with a bill that will serve us now and for the future,” he advised.

On molecular laboratories, he said that the NCDC’s goal was to have such a laboratory operating in the 36 states of the federation.