Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General, Nigeria Center for Disease Control has raised an alarm over growing rapid test kits black market in the country.

According to him, some organizations are selling “what they call antibody tests.” He, therefore warned that such “antibody tests” could not give valid covid-19 results.

In a statement, the DG said, Nigeria currently has 8,733 Covid-19 patients and 112 isolation centers in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory. With 29 laboratories, where Covid-19 is being tested.

With cases rising   to 8,733 as of Wednesday as reported, the task force warned that government could not cope with more increasing cases.

In another note Mustapha raised alarm that most deaths recorded were non-corona-virus illnesses in the country.

He attributed this to the refusal of hospitals, including federal institutions, to treat patients for fear of  covid-19.

Mustapha, said, “The PTF has received sad reports of continued refusal by medical institutions to receive and treat patients for fear of COVID-19. This has resulted in several unfortunate and avoidable fatalities and statistics have shown that there is a drastic drop in the percentage of attention being paid to other ailments not related to Covid-19.

“This situation is made worse by the fact that federal tertiary institutions have been mentioned among those rejecting patients for fear of COVID-19. This is not acceptable. We are saddened by this development.

“The minister of health has reached out to all medical directors directing them to continue providing regular medical services so that we do not end up with avoidable deaths. Truth be told, we are having more deaths from non-attendance to other diseases than even Covid-19.”

The SGF urged all the chief medical directors and private health service providers to attend to other health challenges, which had continued to confront people on a daily basis.