Human rights are not absolute. Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution allows a law to restrict some rights in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health. The following situations limit human rights in society:
1. Emergency periods. The rights of individuals are usually controlled and checked during wartime or a declared state of emergency.
2. Declaration of curfew. A curfew limits people’s freedom of movement during the hours it covers.
3. Convicts. A person convicted by a court can lose the right to liberty and may be denied the right to vote and be voted for unless granted a state pardon by the President or Head of State.
4. Slander and libel. Freedom of expression is limited by the laws of slander and libel, which punish false statements that damage another person’s reputation.
5. Murder. A citizen’s right to life can be taken away if a court finds him guilty of murder and sentences him to death.
6. Outbreak of contagious diseases. During an epidemic, government can restrict movement and public gatherings or isolate infected people to stop the disease from spreading.
How WAEC asks it: “Suggest four conditions under which human rights can be violated in Nigeria” (WASSCE (SC) 2022, Civic Education Paper 2, Question 1(b)). The examiner’s expected points included state of emergency, curfew, conviction by a court of law and outbreak of contagious diseases.