TheCable

The Lagos government says it set up an online portal for the verification of COVID-19 test results in the state.

In a statement, Akin Abayomi, commissioner for health, said the government frowns at the falsification of COVID-19 test results, and that anyone found to be involved in the illegal act will be prosecuted.

TheCable’s undercover investigation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, had exposed how government officials forge COVID-19 test results in exchange for bribes.

The state government later admitted that some international travellers procure fake COVID-19 test results.

“The Lagos State Government has deployed a verification platform to validate the authenticity of COVID-19 PCR tests done within the Private Laboratory Consortium and all State Public laboratories for outbound flights. This platform can be accessed through an App and the use of USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data-codes),” Abayomi said.

“The USSD option, which is available on all networks in Nigeria, can also be accessed outside of Nigeria as long as the mobile line is on a Nigerian Telecommunications Network. The USSD option can be accessed by dialing 3513119# on the 9mobile network and 5550019# on all other networks and following the onscreen prompts to verify results. The first 30,000 result verification will be free – courtesy of the Lagos State Government. Subsequent verification will attract N50 per usage for the user/client.

“The process can be used by all clients who require the validation of COVID-19 PCR results, such as Airports, Airlines, Work- related processes and passengers themselves. The Lagos State Government would also be placing personnel at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport to assist in the verification process of the COVID-19 PCR results for all outbound passengers.

“Following the re-opening of the economy, and the airport borders, it has become increasingly necessary for outbound passengers to take COVID-19 PCR tests before departing Nigeria as a prerequisite for travel to specific destinations. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements have taken advantage of the situation to enrich themselves by falsifying COVID-19 PCR results and selling them to passengers.

“The Lagos State Government continues to frown at the falsification of COVID-19 PCR test results; and anyone caught in this illegal practice will be prosecuted. The State Government will continue to strengthen its response against this pandemic to protect the lives and livelihood of all Lagosians and residents.”