Abuja / Katsina — December 4, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
A pregnant woman identified as Aisha Najamu has died at Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina after staff allegedly refused a bank-transfer payment for emergency oxygen insisting instead on immediate cash payment, witnesses say. The victim was rushed to the ho
spital in critical condition and required urgent oxygen support. According to those present, the hospital cashier declined to proceed with treatment because there was no cash on hand, citing a policy that prohibits electronic transfers for payments.
Attempts by relatives to persuade the cashier failed even after offers of additional payment and after presenting foreign currency and the woman reportedly remained without oxygen until she died late Wednesday evening around 11:30 p.m.
In response to public backlash, hospital management acknowledged the incident and said it would investigate any staff negligence. They cited the state government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy and the facility’s lack of POS machines as reasons they could not accept transfers. They also admitted that oxygen supplies were limited and often procured from external vendors a shortage that compounded the tragedy.
Civil-society groups and residents have condemned the death, calling it a stark indictment of systemic failures in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Many are demanding accountability, enforcement of emergency-care protocols regardless of payment method, and reforms to ensure that financial procedures do not block access to lifesaving treatment.