Infectious diseases bill: Coalition of groups call on government to do right thing

Yanju Uwala in Abeokuta

The Coalition Against Mandatory Vaccination and the Advocates for Freedom and Democracy has, raised its voice against the presentation of the Control of Infectious Diseases bill, at the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, 28th April, 2020.

Penpushing reports that the groups, a coalition of over sixty groups, committed to nation building efforts in Nigeria, are inspired by the Christian faith, and in a statement jointly signed by representatives of the Coalition, stated that there are areas in the bill that violently infringe on the Nigerian Constitution in the areas of human rights, and civil liberties, and also portend grave dangers to our physical, mental and spiritual health.

The Groups in the statement highlighted areas of suggestion for improving the bill,stressing that,”although there are several editorial lapses in the Bill, we will like to focus on the two major issues of serious concerns to us’.

‘These are 1) several instances of summary abrogation of human rights, dignity and civil liberties; and 2) the issue of mandatory vaccination with the possibility of chip-implants being employed in the areas of vaccine delivery, certification, and surveillance’.

“Section 6 (1) and (2), section 13(1), section 13(4) and section 70 of the Bill vested so much power on the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) that infringe on the fundamental rights and civil liberties of anyone suspected of having been “in contact of an infectious disease”, a judgment for which he cannot be personally held liable even if it was wrong’.

“As for private properties and assemblies, the Bill empowers the DG of the NCDC to summarily declare “any premises” an isolation area (section 15(1). Similarly, if “in his opinion” any building (for example a Church) is deemed overcrowded, “so as to expose the occupants to” any of 35 listed infectious diseases (including malaria), they could be asked to disperse with immediate effect (section 16(1)) failure of which a police officer can thereafter come “without warrant” and use “such force as may be necessary” to close the building, and worse still, the owner/occupier will be required to settle the expenses incurred in the exercise (section 16(4)).

“Even healthcare professionals are not spared.  They are required to transmit whatever information the DG requires of them “notwithstanding any restriction on the disclosure of information imposed by any written law, rule of law, rule of professional conduct or contract;”  (Section 8(4)).

“It is incredible that the DG’s opinion can override “any written law” which obviously includes the nation’s constitution and fundamental professional ethics. All these provisions not only grossly flout several provisions of the Nigerian Constitution (Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended)’

‘They also violate with impunity the requirements and protocols stated in the NCDC’s own charter (Sections 9, 21, and 22 of the NCDC Act 2018) and in the International Health Regulations (Section 9.1, IHR, 2005) to which Nigeria is a signatory”, it reads.

Penpushing further reports that the statement raised concerns over plans in the bill to smuggle in chips implant under the guise of controlling infectious diseases in the country, if the bill is allowed to be passed.

“Although the bill does not specifically mention Chip Implants, in our assessment, based on widely available information, there are a number of avenues where chip implants can be smuggled in under the guise of controlling of infectious diseases in Nigeria, if it is passed as presented’.

“Sadly, we perceive that this is the ultimate aim of this Bill, which is evidently being pushed by foreign elements under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health, however, is way beyond just having a body free of COVID-19 virus!  It is a state of complete physical, mental and emotional well-being”

Penpushing reports that, the Coalition demanded for immediate amendments into the key areas of the bill to block the introduction of chip implants into the bodies of Nigerians, adding, “we are demanding amendments in four related key areas of the Bill, to block loopholes that can facilitate the introduction of chip-implants into the bodies of Nigerians’.

‘These are the areas of Vaccine delivery, Certification of vaccination, and Surveillance which are all associated with Mandatory vaccination. Mandatory Vaccination is neither Justifiable Nor Acceptable” it stated.

The statement also indicated that sections 46(1) and 47(1) of the Bill makes it mandatory for every child and adult in Nigeria respectively to be vaccinated against the diseases set out in the Fourth Schedule, while Section 30(1) requires

“Every person on an international voyage whether leaving or arriving in Nigeria” to produce valid international certificates of vaccination or other prophylaxis to a Port Health Officer (1b)’,it emphasised.

The Coalition in the statement, also added that the delivery of vaccines via implanted chips are not acceptable, adding that in order to forestall the impending mass implantation of enslaving nanochips in Nigerians under the cover of vaccination therefore, it is necessary that the provision empowering the DG NCDC to specify “the way” the vaccination is to be administered must also specifically exclude chip-implants as a mandatory or favoured mode of vaccine delivery in Nigeria.

Penpushing further reports that the Coalition, also stated, “we believe as do millions of Nigerians, that the COVID-19 pandemic is a money making initiative of some globalist new world order advocates seeking to usher in another season of colonization and enslavement of Africa, with Nigeria being a prime target’.

“With the clear understanding of what this portends for us, our children, and generations yet unborn, we vehemently oppose this move, and demand that the proposed Bill must specifically proscribe implants into the body either for administering a vaccine (section 47(3)), providing certification that a vaccine had been administered (section 30 (1), (2)), or for surveillance purposes (Section 80)”

 Penpushing also reports that, the coalition, also call on Nigerians, irrespective of their religious and ethnic difference to join them towards urging the government to do the right thing.

“We call on all patriotic citizens of Nigeria irrespective of religious or ethnic differences to join us in this effort to prevail on our representatives in government to do the right thing; and give Nigeria a chance to fulfill her God-given destiny”