Nigeria public health laws are being reviewed to improve data sharing, surveillance, and epidemic preparedness through stronger legal frameworks

Nigeria public health laws are undergoing review to remove barriers to data sharing and strengthen surveillance systems essential for tackling emerging health threats.

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The initiative, led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) in collaboration with global health organisation Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), seeks to establish a harmonised legal framework that enables secure, timely, and coordinated use of health data at both federal and state levels.

As part of the process, a four-day stakeholder workshop was held in Nasarawa State on Friday to assess existing laws, identify gaps, and recommend reforms.

Participants included representatives from ministries, departments, and agencies alongside experts in law, ICT, surveillance, data protection, and planning.

NCDC Legal Adviser, Safiya Musa, highlighted the role of legal structures in health security. “Legal instruments that support data governance are essential for effective epidemic preparedness and response.

This workshop is an important step towards building a system that allows for timely sharing of surveillance data while protecting privacy and ensuring security,” she said.

RTSL Senior Technical Advisor, Dr. Rabi Usman, emphasized the life-saving impact of effective information sharing. “Data can only save lives when shared and used effectively.

Clear legal frameworks that enable secure, timely, and coordinated multisectoral data sharing are critical for preventing epidemics and protecting lives,” she stated.

Also speaking, RTSL Senior Legal Advisor, Emem Udoh, warned against delays in reforms. “Overcoming barriers to public health data sharing is critical to strengthening Nigeria’s surveillance system, and clear legal instruments are essential for ensuring this is done efficiently and ethically,” she said.

Key outcomes from the workshop included a draft review of existing legal instruments, identification of gaps hindering inter-agency collaboration, and recommendations for long-term reforms to Nigeria’s public health legal framework.

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This marks a crucial step toward a more responsive and resilient public health system capable of addressing future epidemics.