February 3, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerian Senate has taken decisive action to address critical gaps in the country’s emergency healthcare system, calling for compulsory antivenom stocking and improved emergency response mechanisms in hospitals nationwide after the highly publicised death of an Abuja-based singer from a snakebite exposed dangerous deficiencies in treatment availability.
The resolution, adopted on Tuesday, followed the tragic passing of Ifunanya Nwangene, widely known by her stage name Nanyah, who died after suffering a snakebite at her residence in the Federal Capital Territory. Outrage spread nationwide after it emerged that she was reportedly unable to access timely antivenom treatment in multiple health facilities, prompting lawmakers to spotlight systemic emergency-care failures.
Sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), the motion highlighted the urgent need for government intervention to ensure adequate stocking, availability, and access to life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines including antivenoms, anti-toxins, and other critical antidotes in both public and private hospitals across the country.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Adebule noted that Nigeria has witnessed a rise in medical emergencies requiring immediate intervention, such as snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, and drug overdoses, which often demand prompt administration of specific antidotes to prevent fatalities. She stressed that the late singer’s death exposed “serious gaps in emergency preparedness and antidote availability” in healthcare facilities nationwide.
In response, the Senate unanimously urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to develop and enforce national guidelines prescribing minimum stock levels of essential antidotes for designated hospitals. It also directed that antivenom availability be made a mandatory requirement for licensing and accreditation of private health facilities.
Furthermore, lawmakers called for coordinated emergency referral and response systems linking public and private hospitals, ensuring rapid access to life-saving treatments during medical crises. They also mandated periodic training for healthcare personnel on antivenom administration and emergency protocols, while requesting state governments immediately audit facilities to assess compliance with antidote-stocking standards.
As part of the resolution, the Senate directed the Federal Ministry of Information and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out national public sensitisation campaigns on the importance of seeking prompt medical care after snakebites and other forms of envenomation, aiming to reduce preventable fatalities due to delayed treatment.
In related developments, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reportedly issued a nationwide directive for hospitals to ensure the availability of antivenom, urging health authorities to prioritise procurement, quality assurance, proper storage, and distribution of affordable antivenoms across high-risk regions.
The Senate’s initiative comes amid growing public concern over avoidable deaths linked to inadequate emergency healthcare services in Nigeria — a nation where venomous snakebites and other poisoning incidents are not uncommon. By making antivenom availability mandatory and strengthening emergency response systems, lawmakers say they hope to prevent future tragedies and strengthen the resilience of the national health infrastructure.