• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Mohammed Idris Malagi, Honorable Minister of Information and National Orientation

      FG Reaffirms Non-Interference in ICPC, EFCC Operations

      ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • NUPENG

      NUPENG Suspends Strike After Truce With FG, Labour, Oil Stakeholders

      Customs, Defence Bureau Unveil Airboat for Smuggling War

      Customs Begins Live Operations of Automated Excise Register System

      Still on the “National Single Window” Project By Abdulsalam Mahmud

      Minister of Finance Wale Edun and the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adeniyi decorating OP Olaniyan

      Customs Generates N3.7trn in H1 2025 as FG Targets Enhanced Private…

  • National
    • Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri…

      NIPR President Ike Neliaku

      NIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National Unity

      Ahmed Balarabe Sa'id

      Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

      The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa

      FG to Schools: Get Certified Teachers or Lose WAEC Accreditation

      Troops Eliminate Terrorist, Rescue Kidnap Victims in Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna

    • Government
      • Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf and the conjoined twins

        Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

        Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

        Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children…

        Ahmed Balarabe Sa'id

        Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

        The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa

        FG to Schools: Get Certified Teachers or Lose WAEC Accreditation

        ECOBANK

        ECOWAS debt: Court Remands Ecobank Legal Head over Perjury, defamation of…

  • Security
    • Military Troops in Action

      Military Eliminates Terrorist Commanders in Yobe, Foil Attacks in Sokoto, Zamfara

      court Judiciary

      Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other…

      Inspector-General of Police Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun

      Police Chief Tasks Border Patrol Commanders on Enhanced Security

      Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar NAF Chief

      Air Chief Links Fiscal Discipline to Nigeria’s National Security, Operational Readiness

      Army Arrest Notorious Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms in Plateau

  • Features
    • Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

      Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri…

      Omoyele Sowore, Bayo Ononuga and Adeola Ajayi

      Sowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS Overreach

      Ahmed Balarabe Sa'id

      Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

      Traffic officials tolling the vehicle at the scene in Abuja

      SPECIAL REPORT: Extortion, Blood and Impunity Behind Abuja’s Agbero Menace

      AI for Writing

      MUST READ: Why Everyone Should Use AI for Writing, With Pride…

  • State
    • Military Troops in Action

      Military Eliminates Terrorist Commanders in Yobe, Foil Attacks in Sokoto, Zamfara

      Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu

      UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication

      Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf and the conjoined twins

      Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

      court Judiciary

      Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other…

      Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State

      Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children…

  • Event
    • Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu

      UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication

      NIPR President Ike Neliaku

      NIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National Unity

      Baze University Management visits TETFUND, Showcases Tech-Driven Growth, National Impact

      PHOTOS: BUK Alumni Association Launches Digital Hub to Unite Global Graduates,…

      Founder Image Merchant Promotion Ltd, Yushau Shuaib, Nigeria Customs CG, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the IPRA representative during the 2024 GWA awards in Belgrade, Serbia

      Again, ​IPRA Shortlists Nigeria Customs, IMPR for Golden World Awards, Celebrates…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home National COVID-19 Tests: How NCDC Made N6.54bn for Private Labs from Travellers in...
  • National

COVID-19 Tests: How NCDC Made N6.54bn for Private Labs from Travellers in Nigeria

By
Prnigeria
-
January 24, 2021

COVID-19 Tests: How NCDC Made N6.54bn for Private Labs from Travellers in Nigeria
With Billions of Naira spent in Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on health facilities, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has made private laboratories richer to the tune of over N6.54bn for conducting tests on international travellers.

Findings by PRNigeria reveals that the NCDC mandated travellers to carry out COVID-19 tests only in private laboratories rather than government health facilities, thereby spending an average of N85,000 for departure and post-arrival tests.

Meanwhile, the cost of COVID-19 ‘PCR test’ varies across approved private laboratories. Currently, it ranges between N36,000 to N50,400 naira, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed in its Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) portal.

NCDC said all payments go directly to the private laboratories and not to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Port Health Services, or the Federal Ministry of Health.

About 35 private laboratories would have realized at least between N6,547,1258,000 from 7,025 inbound travellers who made payment for post-arrival testing captured on the federal government’s portal as of December 21, 2020, PRNigeria investigation has revealed.

Some travellers and medical experts have raised concern over NCDC’s insistence for travellers to patronise private labs for COVID-19 test.

According to them, the rationale for approving the private facilities for testing incoming travellers may not be unconnected with the ‘huge’ sum to be generated as COVID testing fee.

They argued that the Federal Government has finally dug a grave for the nation’s dysfunctional and comatose public health facilities.

Some passengers who spoke to PRNigeria expressed dismay as to why FG will approve some private labs, at the expense of public labs, which would have done the testing at a cheaper fee.

An international traveller and media executive with offices in Abuja and Dubai, Alhaji Ismail Sani berated NCDC for promoting private healthcare service against government facilities for covid-19 tests.

Read Also:

  • Military Eliminates Terrorist Commanders in Yobe, Foil Attacks in Sokoto, Zamfara
  • UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication
  • Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia

Sani said: “The amount of money spent by travellers would have been a huge opportunity for government to generate revenue instead of leaving it to private Labs. Infact, when one tests positive for the virus, they are not taken to private facilities but either Gwagwalada, National Hospital or other public facilities funded by government.

“So why should the government fall short of provisioning for testing facilities? Why must we spend so much money in equipping the Government hospitals for emergencies and then we don’t have facilities to just test passengers, why must we go to private who are mere consultancy clinics.”

Recalled that Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), at a briefing convened by the Presidential Task Force in Abuja, had disclosed that out of the 163,818 incoming travellers (then), 77,025 (47%) made payment for post-arrival testing.

“64,405 (84%) of the number are due for a post-arrival test, but only 44,189 (59%) of them got tested,” he added.

He said 20,216 travellers would be sanctioned for shunning COVID-19 test upon arrival.

His words: “20,216 (31%) have not shown up for post-arrival test thereby endangering members of the community and breaching the protocols they signed up to. The PTF has concluded arrangements with the Nigeria Immigration Service to impose sanctions on these defaulters for breaching the public health protocols, within the ambit of the law.”

PRNigeria gathered that Anambra, Edo, Enugu, Imo and Kano States each has one laboratory earmarked for testing inbound air passengers, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos State, has nine and 20 laboratories, respectively.

Some of the fee-charging private labs include Synlab, 54Gene, E-clinic Diagnostics, Clina Lancet Laboratory, Accunalysis Medical Diagnostics, Biologix Support Services, Clinix Healthcare and Lily Clinics Hospital.

Others include E-Health Africa (EHA) Laboratory, Medicaid Laboratory, DNA Labs FCT, Everight Diagnostics, Health Africa (EHA) Laboratory, Zaine Lab, Arrive Alive Diagnostics, Medilag Consult Laboratories and LASUCOM Molecular Biology Laboratory

Though the NCDC, while answering one of the FAQs, explained that the resources available to Public Health Laboratories are to support testing for the general public, and not for the travelling contingent. Hence, the government okayed some private labs to be carrying out the COVID test.

by PRNigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Covid-19 Tests
  • NCDC
  • Nigeria
  • Private Labs
Previous articleZamfara Gov, Security Chiefs Tour Communities after Bandits’ Attacks
Next articleAccountant General Defies Court, Minister’s Order on Payment of 5 Year Salary Arrears to NEMA Spokesperson
Prnigeria
Prnigeria
https://prnigeria.com
PRNigeria is the pioneer Press Release Distribution agency in Nigeria. A member of image Merchant Promotions limited, PRNigeria encourages individuals and organisations to be more transparent in their information management. with dedicated Editorial staffs, the PRNigeria ensures that information provided on its platforms are timely, factual and authoritative Read more at: //prnigeria.com/about/
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

Mining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri Idakwo Laruba

NIPR President Ike Neliaku

NIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National Unity

Omoyele Sowore, Bayo Ononuga and Adeola Ajayi

Sowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS Overreach

Police Nab ‘Obi of Lagos,’ Foil ₦1.5 Billion New Palace Fraud

Ahmed Balarabe Sa'id

Renewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa

FG to Schools: Get Certified Teachers or Lose WAEC Accreditation

Troops Eliminate Terrorist, Rescue Kidnap Victims in Sokoto, Katsina, Kaduna

ECOBANK

ECOWAS debt: Court Remands Ecobank Legal Head over Perjury, defamation of Judge character

FACT-CHECK: Did Governor Uba Sani describe El-Rufai as “Godsent” who assisted him with various needs, including property acquisitions and even against Peter Obi?

The Arrest of Ansaru Kingpins Mahmud Muhammad Usman aka Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri aka Mallam Mamuda

DSS Secures 15-Year Jail Term for Ansaru Leader Over Illegal Mining

Military Troops during operations

Army Arrests Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms, 164 Stolen Livestock in Plateau, Zamfara, Sokoto

Femi Fani-Kayode FFK

Fani-Kayode Denies Interest in NFA Chairmanship

Recent Posts

  • Military Eliminates Terrorist Commanders in Yobe, Foil Attacks in Sokoto, Zamfara
  • UNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Communication
  • Kano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/Arabia
  • Court Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other Terrorists
  • Kano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children Crisis
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Military Eliminates Terrorist Commanders in Yobe, Foil Attacks in Sokoto, ZamfaraUNIMAID appoints Prof. Mu’azu as Pioneer Dean, Faculty of CommunicationKano Separated Conjoined Twins Return Home After Successful Surgery in S/ArabiaCourt Okays DSS Request to Accelerate Trial of Al-Barnawi, 4 Other TerroristsKano Government Approves ₦1.1bn for School Uniforms to Tackle Out-of-School Children CrisisPolice Chief Tasks Border Patrol Commanders on Enhanced SecurityAir Chief Links Fiscal Discipline to Nigeria’s National Security, Operational ReadinessArmy Arrest Notorious Cattle Rustlers, Recover Arms in PlateauTroops Repel Bandits’ Attacks in Kaduna, Katsina, Recover Rustled CattleMining Marshals and the Fight for Nigeria’s Mineral Future By Zekeri Idakwo LarubaNIPR Inducts 422 New Members, Urges Commitment to National UnitySowore’s Provocation, Onanuga’s Plea and the DSS OverreachNigerian Troops Intercept Ransom Money, Recover 160 Rustled CattlePolice Nab 'Obi of Lagos,' Foil ₦1.5 Billion New Palace FraudRenewed Hope and the Broadening Public Sphere By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id
X whatsapp