The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, says it costs the state government between N40,000 to N50,000 to conduct a COVID-19 test.

He notes that Lagos has conducted 16,000 tests so far.

At an average cost of N45,000 per test, it means Lagos has spent N720m on coronavirus tests.

Abayomi noted that the state government in a week planned to ramp up testing from 800 to 1,000 per day.

He said,

“Well, for now, the government is providing testing free of charge. And the government pays about N40,000 to N50,000 per test. But as we ramp up our testing, we will have to use some means of subsidising those tests either through insurance or some contributions from donors or developmental partners to help us subsiside the tests.”

The health commissioner said the country was at the stage of active community spread and appealed to those who had the infection to go public with their results.

He said sooner or later, most residents would catch the virus.

“This issue of stigma is what we must get rid of. If you have COVID, tell people you have it. COVID catches everybody. There is nobody that is immune to it. Stop hiding,” he added.

The health commissioner maintained that the state was on course to register up to 90,000 confirmed cases by the end of July.