Nigeria has developed a COVID-19 test kit that can give results in less than 40 minutes and does not need extensive training to use.

Health Minister Olurunimbe Mamora said it was much faster and 10 times cheaper than the PCR testing method currently being used.

The kit is yet to be approved by regulatory bodies but has raised hopes of boosting the country’s low testing rate.

Nigeria has been importing key elements needed for coronavirus testing.

The authorities said the test kit, known as SARS-COV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay, was developed by Nigeria’s Institute of Medical Research.

The head of Nigeria’s COVID-19 response task force, Boss Mustapha, told a media briefing that the kit was Nigeria’s contribution to the global fight against the pandemic through scientific research.

The health authorities said the test kits will be distributed soon to communities – after a validation process – to boost testing across the country.

Nigeria has so far tested just over 500,000 people out of its population of around 200 million.

It has recorded more than 58,000 Coronavirus cases with more than 1,000 deaths. The number of daily confirmed infections is declining.