Sale of fake COVID-19 certificate in Lagos – LASG

The Lagos government has awakened residents in the state that some improbable persons are now selling fake COVID-19 certificates to travelers.

This was disclosed on Monday, December 28, by the commissioner for health, Akin Abayomi, during a press briefing on the situation of the second wave of the virus, PM News reports.

However, Abayomi noted that the government is making decisive moves to track and arrest perpetrators of this crime.

Earlier, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had dismissed reports that about 40% of arriving passengers who presented negative COVID-19 test results occurred positive.

This claim had inflated fears and suspicion among Nigerians who believe that the development is proven to be true, would sky-rocket the situation of the virus in the country.

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There are suspicions that there was a scam among travelers who present fake test result certificates in airports on arrival.

However, Eko Hot Blog gathered that the director-general of the NCDC, Chikwe Ihekeazu, denied the reports, adding that there is no data to validate them.

Ihekweazu said:

“Firstly, there is no data to show that 40 percent of travelers that returned since the resumption of international travel have COVID-19. This is simply erroneous.

“The PTF-COVID-19 has made the repeat test in Nigeria mandatory to reduce the risk of a spike in cases as we resume international flights.

“The international travel portal, which we have expanded, is to enable us to track the number of travelers into the country and ensure the required tests and follow-up are carried out.”