THE QUARANTINE ACT
Act · Health
Policy date: 2020-01-01
An Act empowers the President to impose quarantine measures against infectious diseases entering Nigeria. It targets ports, border authorities, and travellers from affected areas. This protects public health by preventing disease spread.
THE QUARANTINE ACT
What Is This Policy?
An Act that empowers the President to impose quarantine measures to prevent the introduction, spread, and transmission of infectious diseases into and within Nigeria.
Who Does It Target?
The President and Federal Government as exercising quarantine powers Ports and border health authorities Travellers arriving from disease-affected countries Owners of vessels, aircraft, and vehicles entering Nigeria
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Protect Nigeria from importation of dangerous infectious diseases through the imposition of quarantine, isolation, and health inspection measures at points of entry.
Key Features
Presidential Powers: Empowers the President, by regulation, to impose quarantine on vessels, aircraft, and persons arriving from disease-affected areas. Inspection at Ports: Authorises health officers to board and inspect vessels and aircraft for the presence of disease. Compulsory Vaccination: Allows for compulsory vaccination of persons arriving from or departing to disease-endemic countries. Quarantine Stations: Establishes quarantine stations at major ports and airports for detention of suspected carriers.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active - deployed significantly during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Coverage: All Nigerian ports of entry: seaports, airports, and land borders Beneficiaries: Nigerian public and public health system Funding: Federal Government
How to Access
Travellers from affected countries must comply with health screening Vaccination certificates required from designated disease-endemic countries Non-compliant persons may be detained at quarantine stations Application method: Compliance is mandatory; administered by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Important Terms
Violation of quarantine orders is a criminal offence Quarantine regulations may be issued by presidential declaration The COVID-19 Regulations 2020 were issued under this Act
Official Resources
Website: https://www.ncdc.gov.ng Contact: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) / Federal Ministry of Health
Legal Framework
Enacted under the legislative powers of the National Assembly vested by Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Quarantine Act (Cap Q2 LFN 2004) is the principal statute. Operates alongside the National Health Act 2014, the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, the NAFDAC Act, the Port Health Services Act, and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Act 2018.