MLSCN Intensifies Clampdown on Illegal Medical Laboratories in Lagos and Ogun States
MLSCN Intensifies Clampdown on Illegal Medical Laboratories in Lagos and Ogun States
In a decisive, standards-driven effort to safeguard public health, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), in collaboration with the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) (Lagos and Ogun States) and the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) (Lagos and Ogun States), supported by GMLD National Officers, conducted an on the spots monitoring of the medical laboratories and enforcement operation on Friday, 9th August 2025. This exercise was partly in response to the public petition by Kawthat Abdulazeez, which drew attention to unsafe and unlicensed laboratory practices.
The enforcement team visited facilities in Alakija Festac, Lagos, and Akute, Ogun State, uncovering grave breaches of professional and statutory requirements. These facilities, operating without the mandatory registration with MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (MLSCN), were allegedly conducting diagnostic tests without qualified oversight, standard equipment, or adherence to biosafety protocols.
At Integris Blood Bank, Alakija Festac, the team found the facility sharing a building with a registered laboratory but without any licensed Medical Laboratory professionals on site.
The premises were partially closed, unattended, and immediately sealed for non-compliance.
The second visit, to Excelmed Medical Diagnostic Services, 19 Arifanla Road, Akute, followed a complaint that the center had incorrectly reported a client’s genotype as AA instead of SC. The facility had already been sealed by the Ogun State Ministry of Health.
Investigations revealed that the owner was not a Medical Laboratory professional, employed no licensed staff, and had no record of registration with either the State Ministry of Health or the MLSCN.
The inspection also revealed widespread quackery in Akute. For instance, First Victorian Laboratory Services, operating as an extension of a pharmacy, was manned by a so-called “Science Laboratory Technologist” in an unhygienic setting, with injection paraphernalia, drips, and blood samples found on the floor. At Eagle Diagnostic Center, no qualified personnel were present, yet same-day test results were found in their records despite claims of inactivity. The premises were in disarray.
Dr. Paulinus Nnamdi Offutalu, Head of the MLSCN Southwest Zonal Office and team lead, emphasized:
“Illegal laboratories pose a severe risk to patient safety and erode the credibility of medical diagnostics. Our duty is to ensure that only qualified professionals operate facilities that meet national quality and safety benchmarks.”
The team’s findings included absent biosafety measures, lack of patient result records, expired reagents, poorly maintained equipment, and staffing by unqualified personnel.
All offending premises were ordered closed pending further investigation.
Community members expressed both shock and concern, many admitting they were unaware the facilities were unlicensed, while others questioned the accuracy of past results.
Under the leadership of the Acting Registrar/CEO, Dr. Donald Ofili, the MLSCN reiterated its public advisory:
“Members of the public must verify the registration status of any medical laboratory before patronage. Only licensed laboratories with visible, valid certificates can guarantee accurate results and patient safety.”
This enforcement drive is part of an ongoing national campaign to eradicate quackery, uphold professional standards, and protect the health of Nigerians. MLSCN has reaffirmed its resolve to prosecute offenders, strengthen regulatory compliance, and promote the public quality standard driven diagnosis”
The videos reports are attached below 👇