The management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, has denied allegations of medical negligence following the death of rising singer Ifunanya Nwagene, popularly known as Nanyah, who died after suffering complications from a snake bite.
In a statement, the hospital said its medical team made concerted efforts to save the 26-year-old artiste, countering widespread claims on social media that she was denied adequate care or anti-snake venom. FMC explained that doctors immediately assessed Nwagene on arrival and discovered that she had already developed severe neurotoxic complications from the bite.
According to the hospital, arrangements were underway to transfer the singer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) when her condition suddenly deteriorated. Despite prompt intervention, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom, she could not be revived.
“The patient experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer to the ICU,” the statement read. “Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, but unfortunately, all resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
FMC stressed that Nwagene’s death was caused by severe neurotoxic effects of the snake venom and not by the absence of antivenom or poor response, describing claims to the contrary as unfounded. The hospital also expressed condolences to the family, describing her passing as a painful loss, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency and quality patient care.
However, the singer’s death has continued to spark intense reactions nationwide, reigniting debate over the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly the neglect of primary healthcare. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Saheed Kehinde, criticised what he described as systemic failure by all tiers of government.
Kehinde argued that primary healthcare centres (PHCs) form the backbone of any functional health system and should be adequately funded and equipped with basic, life-saving medicines such as anti-snake venom. He lamented that while the governments focus heavily on secondary and tertiary facilities, PHCs — which should receive the bulk of healthcare funding — are largely neglected.
“Any country that ignores primary healthcare has a failed health system,” Kehinde said. “Anti-snake venom is not a luxury. It is a basic medicine that should be readily available at the community level.”
He further explained that snake bites require urgent medical attention, as the severity of complications depends on the type and toxicity of the snake involved. According to him, early administration of antivenom is crucial to preventing venom from spreading and causing irreversible damage.
Kehinde also called for stronger collaboration between the government and the private sector to improve healthcare delivery at the grassroots, noting that many PHCs lack doctors and essential supplies despite serving densely populated communities.
Beyond official reactions, public anger has spilled across social media, with many Nigerians blaming systemic lapses for Nwagene’s death. The soprano singer, who gained wider recognition after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and later built a following on TikTok, was reportedly bitten by a snake at her residence in Abuja and taken to more than one hospital before she eventually died at FMC.
Popular health influencer, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor described the incident as a failure of the system rather than an isolated tragedy, questioning why antivenom developed specifically for Nigerian snakes, such as “Echitab,” is not routinely available in hospitals. He argued that snake bites are common worldwide but rarely fatal in countries with functional emergency response systems.
Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi also weighed in, contrasting Nigeria’s current situation with its past medical excellence. He recalled that the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, once ranked among the best hospitals globally, lamenting that in 2026, Nigerians are still dying from preventable causes due to lack of basic medicines.
Similarly, animal and nature enthusiast Arojinle highlighted the difficulty of accessing antivenom even in major hospitals and pharmacies, describing it as a grim reflection of the country’s healthcare reality.
While FMC Jabi maintains that it acted appropriately and professionally in Nwagene’s case, the controversy surrounding her death has amplified public scrutiny of Nigeria’s emergency care capacity, particularly for snake bites, and renewed calls for urgent reforms in primary healthcare delivery across the country.
