…. Dangote Urges FG to Allow Private Hospitals Run COVID-19 Test
By Eric Olusesan
Fourteen new cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Nigeria, bringing the total number of cases to 65.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this in a tweet on Thursday night.
A breakdown of the number of the additional cases showed that 12 new cases were discovered in Lagos while the remaining two were confirmed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Six of the cases were detected on a vessel and three others were returning travellers into the country while the remaining case was a close contact of a confirmed case.
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has advised that private laboratories should be allowed to run COVID-19 tests alongside government centres.
He said giving approval to qualified private laboratories would reduce the waiting period for suspected COVID-19 cases.
He made this known in a statement to newsmen yesterday in Lagos State.
“There are currently five government laboratories equipped to handle all the testing in Nigeria.
“However, we have many more quality ones that can do it, but are not yet approved by the government to do so,” he said.
The statement also noted that Dangote and the Managing Director, Access Bank Group, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, are spearheading a coalition of private sector organisations to support governments’ ongoing efforts at tackling the coronavirus menace.
Giving details of the coalition, Dangote said, “The coalition is working with Lagos State Government to erect fully-equipped medical tents that will serve as training, testing, isolation and treatment centres.
“We are also providing an additional facility on Victoria Island, Lagos.
“In addition, we will be bringing in experts from around the world to provide technical and training support.
“COVID-19 affects us all and threatens our collective health – economic, social, psychological and physical wellbeing; hence, the urgent need to work together to beat this common enemy.