COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS AND REPERCUSSIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL

Abstract

The corona virus is a global pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization in December, 2019. Nigeria was not spared the unwavering effects of this global threat. The pandemic heightened the economic, security and good governance challenges facing the country. The preparedness or otherwise of government to face this pandemic was an issue in the face of a dilapidated health sector, corruption, arms conflict etc. All these coupled with the measures adopted by the government to fight the global pandemic proved a direct affront on human rights in Nigeria. This paper looks into the various impacts of Covid-19 on human rights and the anti-human rights measures taken by government to curb the pandemic. It proffered some alternative measures in the interest of human rights in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria. To achieve this feat, the paper explored secondary sources, internet sources and existing international, regional and local laws on pandemic. At the end of this discourse, it concludes that human rights supersedes political privileges and powers and must be respected at all times. Based on this fact, it recommends that all key players should ensure the emergency measures assumed by government in the COVID-19 response conform to the international benchmark for human rights standards, amidst other things.