TheCable

The federal government says the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has fixed $50 as the cost of COVID-19 tests at all points of entry into member states.

The new fee will become effective from May 17, 2021.

Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, disclosed this during a media briefing in Abuja on Monday.

Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), noted that the decision was taken to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS member states within the region.

“The authority of ECOWAS heads of state and governments has fixed the cost of COVID-19 testing, whether PCR or otherwise, at $50 at all points of entry with effect from 17th May, 2021,” he said.

“This is to ease travel and trade among citizens of ECOWAS states traveling within the region.”

On the country’s vaccination drive, the SGF noted that 1,690,719 persons have been vaccinated, which he said represents 84 percent of the targeted persons for the first phase.

Mustapha added that the country is also monitoring developments in other countries as it relates to the rising number of coronavirus infections.

“​Since the last national briefing on 26th April, 2021, the PSC has also received the expression of genuine concerns by experts, international organisations, the Africa CDC, Nigerians, and other friendly nations over these developments. It has also, on the merit, assessed the situation in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the USA with a view to preventing the importation of the variants of concern,” he said.

“The surge and virulence of the variants of concern has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of persons in India and a number of countries and has unfortunately disrupted the production of and global delivery programmes for vaccines. These developments clearly underscore the fact that indeed, no one can be safe until everyone is safe.

“On behalf of the government and people of Nigeria, the PSC wishes to express deep sympathies and condolences to these nations that have been badly affected by the new surge and pray that the Almighty should bring relief and total halt to the ravaging effect on humanity. The PSC also calls on all nations of goodwill, to continue the good work of supporting nations that are encountering the turbulence at this time.”