Yes, private COVID-19 tests are now allowed in Lagos, Nigeria – at a price

According to several news reports posted on Facebook, people living in Lagos can buy a Covid-19 test at a private laboratory for N50,400. For instance a 30 June 2020 article on the site Within Nigeria reads “Lagos State governor through his commissioner for health has announced that Lagos residents who are unable to get themselves […]

According to several news reports posted on Facebook, people living in Lagos can buy a Covid-19 test at a private laboratory for N50,400. For instance a 30 June 2020 article on the site Within Nigeria reads “Lagos State governor through his commissioner for health has announced that Lagos residents who are unable to get themselves tested in government own facilities would henceforth pay N50,400 in a private laboratory to conduct COVID-19 test.”

As of 7 July, Nigeria had nearly 30,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 654 deaths. But so far, the country has only tested 152,000 of its estimated population of 200 million people.

Facebook’s fact-checking system has flagged the reports as possibly false. Can people unable to access Lagos State’s free service now pay N50,400 for a private test?

Making tests ‘widely available’

Lagos State currently has Nigeria’s highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The state government recently partnered with private laboratories to ramp up testing.

Prof Akin Abayomi, the state commissioner for health, said at a 30 June press briefing that this was to ensure more Lagosians were tested. But the tests had to be paid for.

“We recognise the need to expand our testing capacity, especially to the local government areas that are most affected by the community transmission of the virus,” he said.

“Both efforts make it imperative that COVID-19 tests are widely available to members of the public.”

Dr Anthony Ofili, operations manager at Medbury Medical Services, one of the private laboratories approved to conduct the tests, told Africa Check each test would cost N50,400.

A collaboration between Daily Trust and Africa Check to fight health misinformation