17% of Nigerians don’t believe COVID-19 is real,15% not sure – Report

Amidst the continuous surge in the number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, a survey has found that nearly a fifth of Nigerians still do not believe the disease is real.

The study by the research firm, SBM Intel, in all 36 states and the FCT, found that only 68.8 per cent of Nigerians believe that the virus is real.

The report said 14.4 per cent of Nigerians were not sure that COVID-19 is real, while 16.7 per cent did not believe it is real.

It said less than 50 per cent of respondents in Ekiti, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa and Sokoto States thought the virus was real.

The survey, titled: “COVID in Nigeria – The second wave” and published Thursday, X-rayed people’s perceptions about the existence of COVID-19, as well as their reactions to the existing guidelines meant to curb its spread and the vaccines discovery and acceptance.

Of 36 states surveyed, the report noted that in most of the states (23), a large majority of respondents did not think that people were taking the right measures to prevent COVID-19 in their states.

The survey said 63.3 per cent of Nigerians were opposed to another lockdown.

– Premium Times