RE: UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION: With a Fake COVID-19 Certificate, I Travelled from Nigeria to the UK — and Back! 

The attention of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has been drawn to a purported investigative report written by Adeola Oladipupo of Foundation for Investigative Journalism. The online publication is on a report on the syndicate allegedly issuing fake COVID-19 results.  In the said report, our very reputable hospital was mentioned as harboring nefarious elements who colluded with personnel at the Biosafety Laboratory, Yaba to give out fake COVID results.

We wish to make the following clarifications:

1. It will be nice for the writer to authenticate the identity of whoever he dealt with parading as a LASUTH staff. In a swift response, the hospital Management has set up a high-powered panel to investigate the allegation.

2. It is well known that only the private laboratories accredited by the state government carry out COVID-19 tests for intending travelers for a fee. The list of the laboratories can be found onhttps://www.lagosstatebiobank.com/home. Our hospital does not carry out COVID-19 tests. Free COVID-19 tests are done for suspects at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yaba; Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

3. Our hospital is a public premises and there is therefore no restriction whatsoever to entry and exit of human traffic.As a result, even though we try to watch out for heinous characters that really have no business in the hospital, it is usually a herculean task. As a result, there are impostors who parade themselves as hospital workers, out to make quick money from unsuspecting victims. We strongly believe that the writer interacted with one of such touts.

4. Our staff comprises largely of highly disciplined and incorruptible men and women who will not engage in such nefarious activities as described in the report. As a reputable tertiary institution, we are strongly averse such behavior and we are focused on providing high quality healthcare to the people of Lagos State and its environs.

However, we would like to assure the public that the hospital Management will leave no stone unturned to unravel the truth, culprit found will be brought to book.