Cross River Civil Society Engagement Signals Strong Momentum for Public Health Legal Reform

In a key step toward strengthening health emergency preparedness and response systems in Cross River State, Orixine, in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), convened a high-level engagement meeting with civil society organizations (CSOs) at Hogis Luxury Suites, Calabar. The meeting marked a crucial platform for introducing the Health Security Legal Reform Project to local stakeholders and deepening collaboration between government and civil society on legislative reforms for public health.

The convening brought together prominent CSOs working across the public health landscape in Cross River State, alongside the Ministry of Justice, represented by Barr. Raymond Ade Ekpang, Director of Legal Drafting. Participants engaged in robust discussions on legal gaps in the state’s health governance architecture and the urgent need for an inclusive and forward-looking legislative response.

Opening the technical session, Barr. Emem Udoh of RTSL delivered a presentation introducing the organization’s mission and long-standing support for epidemic preparedness efforts in Nigeria. He provided an overview of the Health Security Legal Reform Project and emphasized the importance of subnational engagement in aligning state-level legislation with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). He highlighted how states like Nasarawa and Ogun have successfully advanced similar reforms and encouraged Cross River to seize the opportunity to position itself as a model for legal innovation in public health governance.

“Cross River’s public health laws are in urgent need of modernization,” Barr. Udoh emphasized. “Reforming these laws is not just a legal imperative but a developmental opportunity to strengthen resilience before the next health crisis.”

The meeting’s objectives were multifold: to introduce the legal reform initiative, gather input from CSOs on engaging executive and legislative actors, and explore joint advocacy efforts to support the passage of a comprehensive Public Health Security Bill in Cross River State. Discussions also focused on defining next steps for stakeholder engagement, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and amplifying community voices in the reform process.

In a technical presentation, Barr. Raymond Ade Ekpang outlined the legislative drafting process, stressing the importance of CSO participation at every stage—from conceptualization through public hearings. He urged civil society groups to communicate community priorities and ensure their recommendations inform the drafting of the proposed bill.

“Laws are most impactful when they reflect the realities of the people they are meant to serve,” he said. “Your advocacy, your input, and your engagement are vital to making this reform meaningful and effective.”

Barr. Aniekan, representing Orixine, provided a detailed overview of the health security legal reform project, citing lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to institutionalize legal mechanisms for preparedness and response. He further facilitated an interactive plenary session where participants proposed community-centered advocacy approaches, including leveraging local media, youth engagement, and traditional communication methods like town criers to raise awareness and build public support for the legal reform effort.

The session concluded with a call to action from Barr. Ekpang, who commended the dedication of the participating CSOs and reaffirmed the Ministry of Justice’s readiness to collaborate on the reform process.

“Your work as advocates is indispensable,” he said. “We must continue to build bridges between government and civil society to craft laws that protect and empower our communities.”

This engagement marks another pivotal moment in Cross River State’s journey toward strengthening its public health legal ecosystem, grounded in collaboration and community engagement.