The menace of fake Covid19 test and why Nigerians have embraced it
It is no longer news that the Covid-19 pandemic not only shook the world, it also overwhelmed the health systems of many countries.
What is however worrisome is why Nigerians, who are the most well travelled in the world would resort to embracing the fake Covid19 test results, a major requirement for making international trips.
Before dwelling into this menace which has eaten deep into the society, let’s dissect what the Covid19 virus is.
Covid19 is a family of viruses that causes respiratory and intestinal illnesses in humans and animals, and so far, seven different types have been said to exist.
Since December 2019, the world has been battling with Covid-19, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, following reports of serious pneumonia.
The virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols.
An individual can be infected by breathing in the virus when near someone who has Covid-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then one’s eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus spreads more easily indoors and in crowded settings.
The first confirmed case in Nigeria was announced on 27 February 2020, when an Italian citizen in Lagos tested positive for the virus, and on 9 March 2020, a second case of the virus was reported in Ogun State, which happens to be a Nigerian citizen who had contact with the Italian citizen.
Ever since, the Covid-19 virus has grown steadily in Nigeria, moving from an imported case to the thirty-six states in the country.
According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as of Saturday, 2 October 2021, the number of confirmed cases stood at 205,923 while that for active cases was 9,388 and 193,812 have been discharged while 2,723 have died.
Covid-19 Testing In Nigeria
Testing is a key weapon in fighting the spread of the coronavirus. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) revealed on its official website that as of Saturday, 2 October, 3,042,321 have been tested for the virus.
So far, the most accurate Covid-19 test is a molecular PCR test, which involves inserting a 6-inch long swab into the cavity between the nose and mouth for 15 seconds and rotating it several times. The swabbing is then repeated on the other side of the nose to make sure enough material is collected. The swab is then inserted into a container and sent to a lab for testing.
A positive test means you likely have Covid-19, while a negative test means you probably did not have COVID-19 at the time of the test.
Test analyses are often performed in automated medical laboratories by medical laboratory scientists. Alternatively, point-of-care testing can be done in physician’s offices, workplaces, and even at home.
Fake Covid-19 test results in Nigeria
There have been issues of fake Covid-19 tests in the country. The practice of faking test results for COVID-19 has spread like wildfire.
With places requiring proof that one has been vaccinated or has recently tested negative before giving access, scammers see this as an opportunity to profit by selling fake verification tools or products, like fake vaccination cards, certificates, and test results.
With 30,000 naira as the monthly minimum wage in Nigeria, Covid-19 tests are free in government-owned hospitals in the country, but medical professionals have said that the demand for them far outways the supply of test kits, saying that results could also be delayed for days, inhibiting public health measures to combat the spread of the disease.
Although there are private accredited labs that can serve as an alternative, they don’t come cheap. Private labs in Abuja, for example, charge upward of 36,000 naira for a Covid-19 test, while in Lagos, Covid-19 private test ranges from 50,400 naira.
Reasons for fake Covid-19 test results in Nigeria
High Cost: According to government figures, Forty percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line, some 20 percent of Nigerian workers lost their jobs to coronavirus pandemic disruptions and the country is still crawling out of its worst recession in four decades.
With 30,000 naira as the monthly minimum wage in Nigeria, most individuals would not be able to afford the cost of paying for a Covid-19 test, and sometimes an individual may be required to repeat the test.
According to a piece by Aljazeera, involving students of the University of Lagos, following its temporary closure after positive cases of Covid-19 were reported in hostels on the main campus in Akoka. The students revealed they worked around the system by paying a fixer 3,000 naira, to get them a forged negative Covid-19 test result from a private laboratory.
High speed: Like it was mentioned earlier, getting a genuine Covid-19 test may require an individual to wait for two to three days, and most times Nigerians don’t act until the deadline. So people just prefer to pay for a fake Covid-19 test result because they believe it saves time and it is way cheaper. Some of these fake tests are said to be sold at the price of 25,000 naira.
Corruption: Some workers see this as an opportunity to profit by selling fake verification tools or products, like fake vaccination cards, certificates, and test results. This is Especially especially rampant at airports, for individuals who are traveling out of the country and require proof of being tested to ensure that passengers are negative before boarding.
According to reports these airport workers prey on desperate and stranded travelers, who have neither the vaccination card nor a Covid-19 test result. They then wait for you to approach them not to look desperate from their end.
These workers then claim they can do nothing and advise that these travelers go to government laboratories, after which they tell these individuals that there is a way out and then introduce them to the fake Covid-19 test, telling them how fast and less expensive it is.
Method of testing: The most common and accurate Covid-19 test method involves the insertion of a 6-inch long swab into the cavity between the nose and mouth for 15 seconds and rotating it several times. Individuals have claimed that this method is super uncomfortable and sometimes painful and because of this, some individuals just prefer to go for the fake Covid-19 test.