National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Zaria (Establishment) Bill

What Is This Policy?

The National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Zaria (Establishment) Bill, 2025 is a legislative proposal to create a dedicated federal research and public health institution in Zaria, Kaduna State. The Institute is designed to serve as Nigeria's foremost centre for the study, prevention, diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment of infectious diseases strengthening the country's capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics at national and continental levels.

Who Does It Target?

Federal and state public health agencies, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Medical researchers, virologists, epidemiologists, and public health scientists Healthcare practitioners requiring specialist infectious disease training and diagnostics Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies engaged in vaccine and therapeutics development International health organisations and research partners (WHO, Africa CDC, global health bodies) Communities in Zaria, Kaduna State, and the broader North-West geopolitical zone

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Establish a world-class federal institute dedicated to infectious disease research and management in Nigeria Strengthen national laboratory capacity for early detection and genomic surveillance of pathogens Develop local capacity in vaccine research, clinical trials, and therapeutics production Provide post-graduate training and professional development in infectious diseases and related disciplines Support epidemic preparedness and emergency response coordination with government agencies Reduce Nigeria's dependence on foreign laboratories and imported diagnostics during health emergencies.

Key Features

Establishment of a Federal Institute: Creates the National Institute for Infectious Diseases (NIID) as a statutory body in Zaria, Kaduna State, under the supervisory oversight of the Federal Ministry of Health Research Mandate: Dedicated mandate for cutting-edge research in virology, bacteriology, parasitology, mycology, and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases Diagnostic Services: Establishes reference laboratory services to support disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and confirmatory testing nationally Training and Capacity Building: Provides postgraduate academic and professional training programmes in infectious disease science and public health Governing Council: Establishes a Governing Council with defined membership, tenure, and powers to provide institutional oversight and policy direction Director-General: Provides for appointment of a Director-General as chief executive and accounting officer of the Institute Funding Provisions: Specifies sources of funds including government appropriations, grants, internally generated revenue, and donor funding Collaboration Framework: Empowers the Institute to partner with universities, research institutes, international agencies, and the private sector

Current Status

Bill Stage: First Reading on 19 November 2025. The Bill has been formally introduced and will proceed to Second Reading debate before Committee referral Health Security Gap: Nigeria currently lacks a standalone federal institute dedicated exclusively to infectious disease research; the NCDC handles surveillance but has limited research infrastructure Post-COVID Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical weaknesses in Nigeria's diagnostic, research, and response capacity. This Bill directly addresses those gaps Zaria Location: Zaria hosts Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and its Teaching Hospital, one of Nigeria's largest medical education complexes providing a ready academic and clinical ecosystem for the Institute Regional Relevance: Nigeria's North-West region carries a high burden of infectious diseases including Lassa fever, meningitis, cholera, and tuberculosis, making Zaria a strategically appropriate host Continental Alignment: The Bill aligns with the Africa CDC's drive to build distributed continent-wide infectious disease research infrastructure under the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

How to Access

Legislators: The Bill will be debated at Second Reading, members may contribute to debate, propose amendments, or request referral to the Committee on Health Institutions or Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases Research Institutions: Universities, research bodies, and hospitals may submit memoranda to the relevant House Committee during the public hearing stage State Governments: Kaduna State Government and Zaria stakeholders may engage through their House of Representatives members to influence provisions on land allocation, staffing, and collaboration Civil Society & Professional Bodies: The Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Public Health Physicians, and similar bodies may participate in the legislative review process Contact: Office of Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker's Office, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, Abuja Legislative Tracking: bills.nationalassembly.gov.ng | houseofrepsnigeria.gov.ng

Important Terms

First Reading: The formal introduction and title-reading of a Bill in the House chamber no debate occurs at this stage; it signals the Bill has entered the legislative process Reference Laboratory: A high-specification laboratory designated to perform confirmatory testing, quality assurance, and specialist analysis beyond the capacity of routine health facilities Genomic Surveillance: The use of pathogen genome sequencing to track the spread, mutation, and evolution of infectious diseases across populations Governing Council: The highest decision-making body of a federal statutory institute, typically comprising government officials, academics, and sector representatives

Impact & Metrics

Nigeria recorded over 21 million COVID-19-related disruptions and significant economic losses during the 2020–2022 pandemic, a dedicated research institute aims to reduce future vulnerability Nigeria reports hundreds of Lassa fever cases annually; a national infectious diseases institute would centralise and accelerate research into endemic pathogens Zaria's proximity to ABU Teaching Hospital creates immediate synergy for clinical research, training placements, and shared diagnostics infrastructure If established, NIID Zaria could serve as a WHO-designated regional reference laboratory for West Africa, elevating Nigeria's global health standing

Official Resources

Legislative Portal: houseofrepsnigeria.gov.ng | bills.nationalassembly.gov.ng Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): ncdc.gov.ng Federal Ministry of Health: health.gov.ng Bill Reference: HB. 2629 — National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Zaria (Establishment) Bill, 2025 Summary prepared using the Policy Summary Template | Source: House of Representatives Order Paper No. 51, 19 November 2025; National Health Act 2014; NCDC Act 2018; PIA 2021 | March 2026

Legal Framework

The National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Zaria (Establishment) Bill would operate, when enacted, under the National Health Act 2014, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Act 2018, and the National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015. It aligns with the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework, WHO International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and Nigeria's One Health Action Plan.