Fears of more Covid-19 cases in Nigeria rise as the sale of fake health certificates booms

NIGERIA faces the prospect of increased incidences of coronavirus due to the growth of corruption in the fight against the pandemic as international travellers are now obtaining fake Covid-19 health certificates.

Like every other country, Nigeria has introduced protocols demanding that travellers entering the country receive health certificates proving that they are free of the virus. However, according to Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State health commissioner, many travellers are resorting to buying forged certificates to enable them enter the country.

This development has raised the prospect of affected persons entering Nigeria and subsequently spreading the virus. Professor Abayomi said, however, that the Lagos State government was putting machinery in place to apprehend those doing such unscrupulous businesses.

He also raised the alarm that there had been an increase in positive cases from inbound travellers. Professor Abayomi said: "Positivity for inbound travellers is on the rise as Nigerians in the diaspora return to spend Christmas in Lagos.

"It has come to our attention that a number of people are patronising individuals that sell fake Covid-19 results. We are currently putting in processes to identify both buyers and sellers and we will not hesitate to prosecute them.”