INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS (IHR) DOMESTICATION LAW
Act · Health
Policy date: 2005-01-01
An Act translates international health regulations into enforceable national law for Nigeria. It mandates health authorities, hospitals, and border agencies to comply with WHO standards for disease surveillance and reporting. This strengthens Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness and response capacity against global health threats.
What Is This Policy?
The IHR Domestication Law is Nigeria’s legal instrument to translate international health regulations into enforceable national law, ensuring compliance with WHO standards for disease surveillance, reporting, and emergency response.
Who Does It Target?
The law is directed at health authorities, hospitals, laboratories, and border agencies, mandating them to comply with surveillance and reporting obligations. It also targets state governments and ministries, requiring alignment with federal health security frameworks. International partners (WHO, FAO, OIE) are stakeholders, as Nigeria’s compliance strengthens global health security.
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
The central objective is to strengthen Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness and response capacity. It seeks to ensure timely detection and reporting of public health threats, improve coordination across sectors, and align Nigeria’s laws with global standards.
Key Features
Legal domestication of IHR (2005) into Nigerian law. Designation of NCDC as National IHR Focal Point. Permanent IHR Authority proposed to oversee compliance. Clear division of powers between federal and state governments for health emergencies. Integration of One Health approach (human, animal, environmental health).
Current Status
Rollout Stage: active Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date: Strengthened surveillance and reporting systems; improved coordination during outbreaks Funding: Federal allocations, WHO support, donor contributions.
How to Access
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): https://ncdc.gov.ng PolicyVault Africa: Repository of Nigeria’s IHR domestication law (2025 draft).
Important Terms
Term 1-International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) These are binding global rules adopted by WHO member states to strengthen collective health security. They require countries to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health risks that could cross borders. For Nigeria, domestication means embedding these obligations into national law so they are enforceable by courts and institutions, not just policy directives. Term 2- Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) A PHEIC is a formal declaration by WHO that a health event poses global risk (e.g., COVID-19 in 2020). Under domestication, Nigeria must legally recognize PHEICs and activate emergency measures. This ensures rapid mobilization of resources, border controls, and communication with international partners.
Official Resources
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): https://ncdc.gov.ng Headquarters: Abuja. Email: [email protected] Phone: +234 (0)9 290 0000 • Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare: https://health.gov.ng Link to document- https://ncdc.gov.ng/themes/common/docs/protocols/116_1580654680.pdf
Legal Framework
International Health Regulations 2005 (WHO); National Health Act 2014; Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Act 2018; Quarantine Act; Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999