Professor Tomori, a former advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), characterized the current state of affairs as a return to square one. In an interview with Vanguard during the official unveiling of laboratory equipment by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare in Lagos, he stated, “We constructed over 120 labs, yet many are now defunct. When the next epidemic occurs, we will again find that Nigeria has only three operational labs. This represents a significant failure in ethics, governance, and planning.”
He emphasized that Nigeria remains unprepared for another pandemic, noting that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which is responsible for the country’s pandemic response, initially celebrated the establishment of molecular labs as a significant achievement. However, he pointed out that the NCDC’s website recently indicated that many of these labs are non-functional.
Professor Tomori questioned the reasons behind the labs' inactivity. He attributed the closures to issues such as corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of maintenance. He explained that the construction and equipping of many laboratories were compromised by corrupt practices, with funds intended for high-quality facilities reportedly misappropriated, resulting in subpar structures that could not endure prolonged use.
“You allocate 100 naira for a lab: 50 goes to construction, 30 for equipment, and 20 for personnel. However, 80 naira is pocketed, leaving only 20 for the lab. Within two weeks, the lab ceases to function,” Professor Tomori remarked.
He stated that laboratories necessitate stable funding for reagents, equipment upkeep, and qualified staff. He claimed that as the immediate urgency of COVID-19 subsided, support for these laboratories decreased, leaving many without the essential resources to maintain their operations. He also pointed out the challenges posed by inadequate oversight and planning, criticizing the lack of a comprehensive strategy to incorporate these laboratories into Nigeria’s overall healthcare framework.
He contended that without clear accountability measures, numerous laboratories fell into disrepair shortly after their establishment. He asserted that the closure of these facilities has significant implications, noting that Nigeria’s current testing capacity is critically constrained, which undermines disease surveillance and preparedness for outbreaks.
“The failure to conduct effective testing for emerging variants or other infectious diseases places the population at risk. For instance, during the initial phases of the pandemic, Nigerians traveling abroad tested positive for COVID-19 despite having received negative results prior to departure. This situation raised concerns regarding the reliability of the nation’s testing protocols.”
To remedy this issue, he proposed an immediate audit and accountability measures, emphasizing the necessity of an independent review of the funds allocated for COVID-19 laboratories.
“Those contractors and officials accountable for subpar laboratories must be held responsible. The government should prioritize the reactivation of inactive labs, which includes allocating resources for equipment, reagents, and personnel, as well as establishing strong maintenance systems. He suggested that laboratories should have dedicated budgets to ensure their continuous operation, even during non-crisis times. This should encompass training programs for laboratory personnel to effectively manage advanced diagnostic technologies.
“The NCDC must consistently inform Nigerians about the status of laboratories and provide data regarding testing and surveillance initiatives. Transparent communication is essential to restore public confidence in the healthcare system.”
The closure of more than half of Nigeria’s COVID-19 laboratories highlights significant deficiencies in governance and public health management, according to him. He emphasized that with new variants of the virus emerging worldwide, it is imperative for the country to urgently rectify this shortfall to prevent a recurrence of the pandemic's catastrophic effects. “Immediate action is essential—before we face another health crisis.
This situation transcends mere technical or logistical issues; it is fundamentally a moral one. Ethics underpin all our endeavors. In its absence, we create laboratories that fail and systems that do not function. The well-being of Nigerians hinges on our ability to address this,” Tomori remarked.