Travellers, NCDC and COVID-19 ‘scam’ at airports

Super Falcons. Photo/twitter/NGSuper_Falcons

The outbreak of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemics in 2020 came with its huge challenges. Apart from millions of death recorded across the globe, the pandemic forced many businesses to go under. Nigeria was not left out.

To stop the spread, Nigerians, both young and old, rose in unison to support government’s initiatives and stringent protocols. The country was practically shut down, as movement was restricted. Government introduced and enforced the compulsory use of face masks, social distancing and pleaded with Nigerians to improve on their personal hygiene.

The next stage was the plea to citizens to go for mass vaccination. Although, some skeptics dragged their feet, as the conspiracy theory surrounding the vaccines raised major concerns about the side effects individuals might have after vaccination.

However, many Nigerians heeded the advice and took the vaccines. Some have taken up to three jabs to boost their immunity against COVID-19.

Yet, the manufacturers of the vaccines have confessed to the fact that getting vaccinated was no guarantee to being free from infection or contraction of COVID-19. This has made those who don’t believe in the vaccines to becoming more hardened, after all, of what use is it, if getting vaccinated cannot guarantee 100 percent immunity.

The toughest aspect of the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria is that of going to be tested to determine one’s status.

Nigerians are made to pay through their nose to get tested. This is done with the express directive of the country’s anti-COVID-19 agency, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Before one travels out of Nigeria, he or she must be tested 24 hours to departure date. One has to cough out as much as