The Delta State House of Assembly has taken a significant step toward overhauling its outdated public-health framework, giving first reading to the Delta State Public Health and Hygiene Bill, 2025.
The proposed legislation aims to replace the Public Health Law of 1957, a colonial-era statute widely seen as inadequate for addressing modern sanitation and disease-control challenges.
The bill, designated HB.42, is sponsored by House Leader Hon. Emeka (Emmanuel) Nwaobi alongside 16 co-sponsors.
Its introduction comes amid renewed calls for a strengthened legal foundation to confront persistent public-health concerns across the state, including poor sanitation practices, uncontrolled waste disposal, and recurring outbreaks of waterborne diseases in several communities.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the bill’s first reading and set December 9, 2025, for its second reading, when the House will open detailed debate before referring it to the relevant committee for technical analysis.
If enacted, the legislation will establish updated regulations for waste management, environmental sanitation, public-place hygiene standards, disease surveillance, and emergency response mechanisms.
Supporters say the bill will equip state health authorities with clearer enforcement powers and align Delta State with contemporary best practices in public-health governance.
Advocates also note that the proposed law could enhance collaboration between local councils, state ministries, and health agencies while improving community-level prevention efforts—key to reducing the incidence of cholera, dysentery, and other sanitation-related illnesses that have affected vulnerable populations.
The introduction of the bill reflects the Assembly’s broader push to modernize long-standing statutes and strengthen legal institutions that impact residents’ quality of life. Observers say the upcoming committee review will be crucial in refining provisions related to enforcement, funding, and public engagement before the bill returns for further legislative consideration.
