Abuja residents have expressed pain and anger over the state of health facilities following the avoidable death of 25-year-old singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, due to the unavailability of anti-venom in hospitals within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Nwangene, a classical, jazz, RnB and soul singer popularly known by her stage name Nanyah, was reportedly bitten by a venomous snake in her Abuja residence on Sunday.
In a desperate attempt to save her life, she sought emergency treatment at multiple hospitals but reportedly could not receive the required anti-venom treatment.
Sources said she moved between facilities in search of urgent care but eventually succumbed to the venom after treatment could not be administered.
Reports also indicate that snakes had previously been sighted in and around her residence, raising fresh concerns about environmental safety in parts of the FCT.
In a separate incident, the head teacher of an LEA Primary School in Abaji Area Council, Malam Usman Muhammad, also reportedly died following a snake attack at his office.
According to sources, the reptile entered through a damaged section of the building and attacked him when he resumed work on January 27, 2026.
He was rushed to hospital but later confirmed dead.
Community members reportedly killed the snake after the incident. Residents say the school infrastructure is in poor condition, raising fears about safety for pupils and staff.
Nwangene’s death has renewed criticisms of Nigeria’s emergency healthcare response, particularly the availability of life-saving drugs such as anti-venom.
Reacting on social media, several Nigerians blamed poor infrastructure and inadequate healthcare investment for such preventable tragedies.
One user, Spencer Umoren, lamented that inadequate medical facilities have cost many lives, recalling a friend who reportedly died after hospitals could not provide oxygen during a medical emergency.
Another commenter said Abuja’s infrastructure challenges go beyond road construction, stressing that functional healthcare and social services are essential indicators of development.
Similarly, Dr. Benjamin Udodigbo argued that while road construction is important, access to quality healthcare and essential services should be prioritised.
Also reacting, Sam Enoh Akpan described the incident as tragic and attributed such occurrences to misplaced government priorities across the country.
The incidents have reignited calls for authorities to strengthen emergency medical preparedness and ensure critical treatments are available in hospitals nationwide.
A peer review in the Sokoto Journal of Medical Laboratory Science 2020 by Babangida, S, Erhabor, O, Erhabor, and Adias, T.C of the Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, on Snake Bite and Management in Nigeria- The Need for The Development of a Snake Bite Strategy, notes that in parts of the Nigerian savanna snakebite victims may occupy over 10% of hospital beds.
They further noted that “in the Benue Valley of Nigeria, the estimated incidence is as high as 497 per 100,000 populations per year with 10 to 20% comprising untreated fatalities, numbers which Ms. Nwangene and Mallam Muhammad have become.
