The federal says the move follows its readiness to repurpose the tuberculosis GeneXpert machines already deployed in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in its National Strategy to Scale Up Access to Coronavirus Disease Testing in Nigeria posted on its website that the objective of planning to repurpose the tuberculosis machines were to decentralise and speed up testing across the country and strengthen national surveillance for COVID-19.

In the document, the NCDC explained that the country has four hundred and seven GeneXpert instruments deployed in three hundred and ninety-nine health facilities across the country, for use as first-line testing for TB diagnosis.

It, however, noted that the United States-based Food and Drug Administration had granted the manufacturer, Cepheid, Emergency Use Authorisations for the use of the instruments and specially designed cartridge in testing for COVID-19.

Meanwhile; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha has revealed that the sum of N792.1m has been paid into the Eradication Support Account to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.

Mustapha who is the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 made the disclosure during the daily briefing by members of the PTF.

He said he was pleased to report that the Office of the Accountant General has published details of inflow into the Federal Government COVID-19 Eradication Support Account.

He explained that the disclosure was predicated on the fact that the committee had promised to make all-cash donations public and in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration on accountability and transparency.

The PTF chairman commended individuals and corperate organisations who have been donating funds into the account and as well recognised the efforts of security agencies that have been helping in enforcing the laws.