The Lagos State Government has announced the reduction of the cost of Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from N50,400 to N45,250 at its accredited private laboratories.
This disclosure is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, who said that the price regime would take effect from January 28.
What the Lagos State Commissioner is saying about the test
Abayomi said that the reduction in cost was to reduce the expenses incurred by citizens who require the PCR tests for travel, work, or other purposes other than Covid-19 symptoms or contact tracing.
The commissioner said, “You will recall that the N50,400 initial PCR test fee charged at the private laboratories was a fixed amount approved by the Governor during the expansion of our testing to include the private laboratories consortium in the first wave.
“This strategy was to expand testing outlets available to the public, but more importantly to ensure price control standardisation and avoid exploitation of the public, as there were huge cost variations in PCR testing in the private sector ranging from N70,000 to as high as N300,000 per PCR test.
“Mr Governor has approved the reduction in cost of the PCR test, bringing us to the new cost of N45,250 per PCR test.
“What this implies is that the Lagos State Government will enforce the new cost of PCR tests conducted at the private laboratories’ consortium.’’
He advised Lagosians, especially inbound passengers who required a test on arrival, to reciprocate the gesture by booking, paying and present themselves at any of the accredited laboratories at approved days for their PCR tests on arrival in Lagos.
He noted that further reviews would be made in due course, especially as the ongoing Covi-19 vaccination campaign gained momentum.
Abayomi, however, noted that PCR tests at approved public health laboratories and sample collection centres in the state remained free for citizens.
He said that the PCR test was free for citizens who need to test for Covid-19; either because of coronavirus symptoms or exposure to a positive case.
Abayomi frowned at the dubious actions of some inbound passengers who present fake PCR tests and Covid-19 vaccination cards, adding that they also volunteered false travel information in an attempt to bypass the national Covid-19-19 guidelines.
What you should know
- In a related development, the Lagos State Government a few days ago, declared that the fourth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state which was triggered by the new Omicron variant is over, as it is now focused on getting more people to take the Covid-19 vaccines.
- The state government had sometime ago warned that foreigners flouting Covid-19 guidelines may be deported and that Nigerian residents flouting new travel protocols will be prosecuted.