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Yes, Lagos state spent N800 million on Covid-19 tests

The Lagos state government has spent N800 million, over US$2 million, on 16,000 Covid-19 tests. That’s the claim a Facebook user made, flagged as possibly false by the platform’s fact-checking system

The user asks: “Can someone help me calculate how much it cost for each person to be tested? What is wrong with our leaders? Is there hope for the common man in this country?” 

Tests for the disease Covid-19 are paid for by the Nigerian government. But how much has been spent in the southwestern state of Lagos?



‘Statement made by health commissioner’


Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, director of public affairs for the Lagos state health ministry, confirmed the figure with Africa Check.

“Professor Akin Abayomi, the Lagos state commissioner for health, made that statement,” Ogunbanwo said.

At a media briefing on 21 May 2020, Prof Abayomi said the state spent between N40,000 and N50,000 on each test for Covid-19.

Abayomi said the state had spent about N800 million in carrying out 16,000 Covid-19 tests.

Lagos Nigeria’s worst-hit state


Lagos is the Nigerian state worst-hit by Covid-19. 

By 1 June, the state had over 5,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 55 deaths. 825 recovered patients had been discharged from hospital. Kano state had the second-highest number of cases in the country, with 958. Motunrayo Joel 




 

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