Stakeholders at the validation meeting of the Cross River State Public Health Legal Assessment Report 2025 in Calabar.
Cross River State has validated a Public Health Legal Assessment Report, positioning itself as a model for state-level governance reform in Nigeria.
The validation meeting, held in Calabar, was convened by the Cross River State Government in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and international public health organisation Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL).
The session brought together more than 30 stakeholders, including representatives from key ministries, civil society groups, and development partners.
The 2025 report provides a critical review of the state’s public health laws and highlights gaps that weakens disease response and emergency preparedness. It aligns with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and proposes targeted legal reforms in areas such as surveillance, laboratory biosafety, food safety, and outbreak financing.
Speaking at the forum, Hon. Ededem Charles Ani, Cross River’s Commissioner for Justice, said
“This report is not just a legal review, it is a governance tool, it enables us to build a legal framework that’s not only responsive but anticipatory capable of safeguarding our people in times of health crises.”
Key findings in the assessment included a lack of legal definitions for critical public health concepts, absence of enforceable surveillance systems, and weak inter-agency coordination, particularly for emerging zoonotic and foodborne threats.
The state government says it now plans to draft a comprehensive Public Health Security Bill that will institutionalise emergency funding mechanisms and clearly define roles across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
On his part, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, Commissioner for Health. noted that, “A functioning health system starts with strong laws, this assessment gives us the clarity and structure to pursue a bold legislative pathway that strengthens both our systems and our resilience.”
Barr. Emem Udoh, Senior Legal Advisor for RTSL Nigeria, praised Cross River’s consultative approach, stating that;
“This is an example of how legal reform should be done, through multisectoral ownership and collaboration,”
“Cross River is not just leading by example; it’s setting the pace for institutional reform that could inspire other states.”
The report recommends six priority actions:
- Updating legal definitions in line with IHR;
- Legal adoption of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) framework;
- Strengthening laws around zoonotic and foodborne disease control;
- Enforcing biosafety and biosecurity protocols in laboratories;
- Activating a statutory emergency health fund;
- Enacting a comprehensive Public Health Security Law.
Barr. Aniekan Akpan, Programme Officer at Orixine Consulting, who also supported the assessment process, noted that the collaboration was one of the most inclusive seen at the subnational level.
“Every voice, legal, health, environmental, and civil society, was part of this process. That’s what makes the output credible and sustainable.” He added
As Nigeria continues to strengthen its national public health architecture, Cross River’s coordinated effort could become a reference point for health governance reform across the country.
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