Global legal response to coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact: perspectives from Nigeria, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Issue 4 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eboibi, Felix E.; Robert, Ebi
• Is Part Of: Commonwealth law bulletin. Volume 47:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 624
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Law -- Commonwealth countries -- Periodicals; 349.11241
• DOI: 10.1080/03050718.2020.1835507
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-0718

Abstract

Abstract : Global COVID-19 legislation contains the spread of the disease. However, the Nigerian government's response to the spread of the virus suffers some technical flaws. Consequently, this paper asks how Nigeria's response to the pandemic compares with those of the United States of America (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Qualitatively, it seeks to substantiate the proposition that Nigeria's response relies too heavily on executive directives and extra-judicial controls, leading to human rights abuses. Even worse is the absence of specific provisions in the Nigerian legislation detailing the application of remote hearing to facilitate redress arising from these infractions comparable to what is obtainable in the US and UK. The paper highlights the several loopholes demonstrated by Nigeria's legal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact, and the lessons the Nigerian government can adapt based on the US and UK experiences.