Prominent Nigerian actress, Iyabo Ojo, has accused Lagos airport officials extorted N51,950 from her under the pretence of undertaking COVID-19 test.
The actress stated that she had done a test in Instabul a day before she flew into Lagos and the result showed that she was negative to the virus.
Upon getting to Lagos, she said that the officials mandated her to take another test and after she paid the money she was directed to the hospital where the test would be carried out.
In an instagram post on her official instagram page, @iyaboojofespris, She said, “Hello Nigeria. I was really very upset at the Nigerian airport this morning. I did a COVID-19 test yesterday morning at the Turkish Istanbul airport before I was allowed to fly. I had to even change my ticket because I needed to wait to collect my result, ok cool!!! So now I don do test, I’m COVID-19 free and free to fly abi?(sic)
“I flew in this morning less than 24 hours with my negative text result of COVID-19, they didn’t even check it at the Lagos airport with all the stress I had to go through to do it in Turkey. I had to even change my ticket because I needed to wait to collect my result.
“Boom! to my greatest surprise, I was made to pay another N51,950 for another COVID-19 test. Why? Funny enough they didn’t carry out any test. They collected my money checked my temperature and gave me a paper to go to a centre in Lekki to do another COVID-19 test. Are you serious! So wetin do the test way I do for turkey yesterday? Na fake abi? this is extortion! extortion!! extortion!!!(sic)”
She continued, “Why couldn’t you people carry out the test immediately at the airport like turkey did? They collected 250TL that’s about 15k in Nigerian money and we went back for results six hours later in the same airport. Una for Lagos collect my money still come give me paper join make I carry myself go do test for Lekki. Chai I don suffer(sic).”
The mother of two further alleged that the customs officials at the airport also demanded money from her.
“Custom wan come add their own frustration join, they wanted to collect money from me again, saying once I have goods worth 50k I will have to pay fine. Everything money! money!! money!! in this country. Nigeria my country happy anniversary in advance,” the actress said.