26% of Nigerians believe coronavirus can’t infect ‘children of God’, study claims

Twenty six percent of Nigerians believe they can’t be infected with coronavirus because they are “children of God”, a study has claimed.

According to the study carried out by NOIPolls, they also believe they cannot contract the killer virus because of other factors including strong genes, the country’s weather, intake of herbs and the belief that the virus is “unAfrican”.

NOIPolls is a country-specific polling service in the West African region, with support from Gallup (USA) to develop opinion research in Nigeria. It is named after Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI), its creator who happens to be an ex-VP of world bank.

“With the incorrect news of immunity being spread it is alarming to note that the poll revealed that 26 percent of Nigerians nationwide held the perception that they are immune to the virus,” said the study.

84% of Nigerians say they are aware of #COVID19,
26% believe they are immune and their reasons are;
– "I am a Child of God" (40%),
– "I have Strong Genes" (30%)
– the country's Hot weather is slowing the spread (17%).

To learn More: https://t.co/9llvMivYgN#NOIPollWednesday pic.twitter.com/p7w9KAGjee

— NOIPolls (@NOIPolls) March 18, 2020

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“Further probing showed that Nigerians who held this belief have based it on their faith and religious beliefs (40 percent) and the perception that they have a strong genetic make-up (30 percent) that is resistant to the virus.

“Additionally, other opinions on immunity to the virus includes, that the Nigerian weather is too hot for the virus to survive in(17 percent), and that their  personal herbal remedy will protect them from the virus (8 percent), while others have the idea that the COVID-19 is not an African disease rather a western disease (5 percent).”

The study, however, revealed that there was increased awareness among Nigerians as regards the pandemic, with 84 percent of the country’s population said to know about the outbreak.

The increased awareness had little impact on the prevention of the virus spread though with 50 percent of Nigerians lacking knowledge of basic preventive measures, the study said.

“Furthermore, the poll revealed that 50 percent of Nigerians do not have information on preventive measure against the coronavirus disease. This implies that about hundred million Nigerians are at risk of being infected with the disease,” the study added.

It also found that there is growing panic level over the virus in the country with 63 percent of Nigerians afraid that they may contract the virus.

In spite of the panic, the study showed 97 percent of Nigerians are willing to report cases and submit themselves to be tested for the virus.

The study comes on the heels of a recent claim by Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), that the virus won’t come near those who serve God.

Adeboye’s claim also comes days after Mike Bamiloye, founder of Mount Zion Faith Ministries International, had said the low spread of COVID-19 in Africa is due to fasting and prayers in the continent.

Nigeria recorded four new cases of the COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 12.