Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of Science and Technology has said that his ministry has developed The RNA Swift to accelerate the capacity to test people and help effectively manage the novel Coronavirus pandemic.
Onu who spoke to The Nation through Abdulganiyu Aminu, ministry’s director of Press and Public Relations, said, “The RNA Swift has amazing precision for the detection of SARS-COV-2 and will be commercially available at a price that places it ahead of competitors in terms of sensitivity and affordability.”
Commending African Development Bank (AfDB) for support towards the project, he said, “The RNASwift product team is in consultation with the African Development Bank for the funding of an African-wide testing programme for COVID-19 and the establishment for RNASwift production in Nigeria. I also want to commend the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Ministry of Finance, the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Sheffield University, Scientists and the organised private sector for their collaborative efforts in the development of the testing kits.”
Also, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, mnister of Agriculture, said, “The Ministry will continue to be in the forefront of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. We will ensure that the testing kits are made available. I advise that Nigerians look inwards, be more organised and focused so as to achieve greatness and more technological feats for the country.”