Half of 120 Labs Created During COVID-19 No longer Functional – Prof Tomori

A renowned virologist, Professor Oyewale Tomori, on Friday said that despite millions of naira spent to establish over 120 labs during the pandemic’s peak, that over half of the facilities are no longer operational, leaving the nation ill-prepared for future health crises. This disclosure is coming amidst global concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19 variants.

Tomori, who is a former World Health Organisation, WHO, Advisor, described the situation as “back to square one.”

In an interview with Vanguard at the sidelines of the of the official unveiling of NIMR laboratory equipment by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare in Lagos, said: “We built over 120 labs, but now many are defunct. When the next epidemic strikes, we will hear again that Nigeria has only three functioning labs. This is a tragic failure of ethics, governance, and planning.”

The Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), which is responsible for leading the country’s pandemic response, initially touted the establishment of molecular laboratories as a major success. He said these labs were built to enhance diagnostic capabilities and decentralize testing across the country.

He asked why the labs were not operating. He attributed the closure of the labs to corruption, mismanagement, and lack of maintenance, stating that the construction and equipment of many labs was marred by corruption. He said that funds allocated for state-of-the-art equipment have been siphoned off, resulting in substandard structures that cannot withstand sustainable use.

“You give 100 naira for a lab: 50 goes to the building, 30 for equipment, and 20 for staff. But 80 gets pocketed, and a lab is built with 20. Two weeks later, the lab stops functioning,” said Prof. Tomori.

He said that laboratories need stable funding for reagents, equipment maintenance, and skilled personnel. He argued that as the urgency of COVID-19 fades, support for laboratories diminishes, and many lack the resources needed to continue operations.

He also pointed to problems of inadequate oversight and planning, and criticized the lack of a long-term plan to integrate these laboratories into Nigeria’s broader health care infrastructure. He argued that the lack of a clear accountability mechanism led to many of the institutes being abandoned shortly after their establishment. The closure of laboratories will have far-reaching consequences, he said, adding that Nigeria’s current laboratory capacity is severely limited, undermining disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness.

“The inability to test effectively for emerging variants or other infectious diseases leaves the population vulnerable.

For example, during the early stages of the pandemic, Nigerians traveling abroad tested positive for COVID-19 despite being declared negative before departure. This raised questions about the reliability of the country’s testing processes.”

On how to address the problem, he recommended immediate audit and accountability, adding that an independent audit of the funds allocated for COVID-19 labs is essential.

“Contractors and officials responsible for substandard labs must be held accountable. The government must prioritise reactivating dormant labs. This includes allocating funds for equipment, reagents, and personnel, as well as establishing robust maintenance frameworks.

He said lboratories should have dedicated budgets to ensure continuous operation, even in non-crisis periods. This includes training programs for lab personnel to manage advanced diagnostic tools.

“NCDC must regularly update Nigerians on the status of labs and provide data on testing and surveillance efforts. Transparent communication can rebuild public trust in the healthcare system.

He said the  closure of over half of Nigeria’s COVID-19 laboratories underscores systemic failures in governance and public health management.

He said as the new variants of the virus emerge globally, the country must urgently address this gap to avoid a repeat of the pandemic’s devastating impact.

“The time for action is now — before the next health crisis strikes.

This crisis is not just a technical or logistical failure; it is a moral one.

“Ethics is the foundation of everything we do. Without it, we build labs that collapse and systems that fail. The lives of Nigerians depend on fixing this,” Tomori stated.