…Offenders to face wrath of the law
By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The Federal Government has criminalized the possession of illegal COVID-19 vaccination cards by unvaccinated persons.
Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib at the media briefing on the COVID-19 Vaccination rollout program in Abuja today made this known.
Shauaib said that due to the increase in COVID-19 vaccination globally a lot of unscrupulous persons are reportedly procuring the vaccines cards without receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.
He said, ” With the increase in COVID-19 global vaccination mandate it has come to the notice of the NPHCDA and the Federal Ministry of Health that attempts are being made by unscrupulous persons to procure the COVID-19 vaccination cards without receiving the COVID-19 vaccines.”
He noted that the agency and the Presidential Steering Committee strongly condemns such fraudulent practices , adding that possession of vaccination cards without receiving the vaccines is criminal and punishable by law.
Shuaib further disclosed that the NPHCDA is collaborating with the State Security Service, SSS and other enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute any persons and their accomplices attempting to fraudulently acquire COVID-19 vaccination cards without getting vaccinated.
The agency boss therefore urged the general public to report any suspected case of buying and selling of COVID-19 vaccination cards without receiving vaccines to the nearest law enforcement agencies or the NPHCDA through the COVID-19 hotlines 07002201122. NPHCDA website: nphcda.gov.ng/complaints.
Meanwhile the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board is currently investigating a suspected case of procurement of COVID-19 vaccination card without vaccination.
WHO Country Representative to Nigeria Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo noted that the variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus present in Nigeria are dangerous, and that the tools needed for evfective protection include vaccination, physical distancing, masking, ventilation, cleaning hands etc.
