The Nigerian government says it spends around N10,000 to test one individual for coronavirus

- This was disclosed by the minister of state for health, Dr Olurunnimbe Mamora, on Monday, March 30

- Mamora, a former minority leader in the Nigerian Senate, is a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Ife

Minister of state for health, Dr Olurunnimbe Mamora, on Monday, March 30 disclosed that it costs the Nigerian government about N10,000 to conduct a COVID-19 test on one individual.

Mamora, a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Ife, stated that the testing method by the government is the World Health Organization (WHO) validated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) which produces an accurate result.

Mamora made the comment while speaking to journalists in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.

He said the government was, however, not worried about the cost but the accuracy of the result, hence the insistence on real-time PCR equipment.

The minister maintained that the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits has not been approved in Nigeria because the WHO has not validated it.

His words: “I don’t have the exact figure but I was meant to understand that it costs about N10,000 or thereabout to run the test. I am not too sure about the figure.

“But even if at N10,000, you can just imagine the huge financial involvement given the number of people that want to be tested.

“Perhaps, that was why people are coming up with RDTs but we have reservation about it. It’s not WHO validated, it’s mostly based on anti-bodies that would be identified in the blood.

“Also, the margin of error is quite high. PCR remains the most reliable method of testing for an accurate result.”

He said the earlier Nigerians appreciate and support the government to win the COVID-19 battle now the better.