The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Abuja has issued a firm denial regarding allegations of an antivenom shortage following the tragic death of 26-year-old rising singer Ifunanya Nwangene. The death of the former contestant on The Voice Nigeria has sparked a national outcry over the state of emergency preparedness in the country's public hospitals.
Nwangene passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a snake while she slept in her residence in the Lugbe suburb of the Federal Capital Territory. According to her choir director, Sam Ezugwu, the singer initially sought help at a private clinic that lacked antivenom before being transferred to the FMC Jabi. Ezugwu claimed that while the hospital provided one dose of the life-saving drug, he was forced to search elsewhere for a second required dose, but Nwangene died before he could return.
The FMC management swiftly rejected these claims, describing the allegations of negligence or drug scarcity as “unfounded and misleading”. In a press statement, Dr Bioku Muftau, the hospital's Head of Clinical Services, insisted that the facility acted with “utmost care” and administered polyvalent snake antivenom immediately upon her arrival. The hospital attributed the fatality to "severe neurotoxic complications" that had already set in, stating that aggressive resuscitative measures, including CPR, were unable to revive her.
The incident has highlighted a stark divide between official government stances and the reality reported by health advocates and frontline workers. On Tuesday, February 3, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) called on the federal government to declare snakebite envenoming a national health priority. The association noted that Nigeria records over 20,000 cases annually, resulting in roughly 2,000 preventable deaths and 1,700 permanent disabilities.
Pharmacist Ambrose Eze, National Chairman of the ACPN, pointed to the high cost of treatment—averaging ₦40,000 per dose—as a major barrier for rural Nigerians. He urged the government to provide antivenom free of charge and invest $12 million into local manufacturing to stabilise the supply chain. “Snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected public health emergencies in Nigeria,” Eze said, warning that the "referral trap" and stock-outs in rural areas continue to prove fatal.
While the federal government maintains that antivenom remains on the essential medicines list, the death of Ifunanya Nwangene has served as a catalyst for renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s healthcare logistics.
