The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has approved 14 private laboratories to conduct COVID-19 tests for a fee.
The government’s health agency made this disclosure in a tweet on Wednesday.
Of the 14 labs, NCDC revealed that 11 are based in Lagos, the epicentre of the coronavirus.
Recall that the agency had previously approved seven labs in the country’s commercial capital in July.
The remainder are spread in Rivers and Imo States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The approved labs include Total Medical Services, SYNLAB, 54gene, Medbury Medical Services, Biologix Medical Services and 02 Medical Services, Clinix Healthcare, Clina-Lancet Laboratories and Afriglobal Medicare.
Others are Reddington Zaine Laboratory, VCare Diagnostics Limited, eHA Clinics, RNZ Laboratory and Everight Laboratory.
The NCDC had early in August revealed that 61 of its laboratories nationwide are currently within the network where tests could be conducted free.
The Federal Government previously announced potential partnership with state governments and private firms to increase testing capacity and tracing of coronavirus cases in the country.
This, it said, was on the grounds of expected influx of travellers into the country following the announcement of the resumption of international flight operations from August 29, 2020.
The influx of travellers will increase the pressure on the already stretched authorities in the country who have been battling to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, which has seen Nigeria record over 50,000 reported cases with over 1,000 deaths.
“Private-public models are being looked at. Lagos and Abuja are the primary locations, and from that, we’ll learn what to do for the other three international airports,’’ Director-General, Chikwe Ihekweazu said.
