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By Goli Innocent
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Professor Saad Ahmed, has told the Senate that doctors could not save Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, because she arrived at the hospital more than two hours after being bitten by a cobra.
Ahmed disclosed this on Friday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2026 budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Health, attended by chief executives of government-owned tertiary health institutions.
Nwangene died about a week ago after she was reportedly bitten by a cobra at her residence.
Her death had sparked widespread reactions on social media, including claims that FMC Jabi lacked anti-venom at the time she was brought in.
The FMC Jabi CMD dismissed those claims, stressing that anti-snake venom was promptly administered but proved ineffective because the venom had already spread through her system before she arrived at the hospital.
“First, I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of the deceased,” Ahmed said.
“This was a case of a cobra bite. The cobra is one of the most poisonous snakes we know, and in such cases, time is absolutely critical.
“She presented to our hospital over two hours after the bite. By then, she had already started showing signs of systemic envenomation,” he explained.
According to Ahmed, contrary to reports circulating online, the hospital had sufficient anti-venom and acted immediately.
“Two doses of anti-snake venom were promptly administered. The first dose was given through infusion, and a second dose followed. But the venom had already gone systemic, and with a cobra bite, the damage can be very rapid and severe,” he said.
He added that anti-venom is most effective when administered within minutes of a bite.
“If she had presented much earlier, ideally within 10 to 15 minutes, the outcome might have been different. Unfortunately, she arrived more than two hours after the incident,” Ahmed said.
Describing the incident as a wake-up call, the CMD said it highlighted the need for improved emergency preparedness, especially in facilities that may not routinely handle snakebite cases.
“For FMC Jabi, we had anti-snake venom in stock, our emergency services were fully functional, and our staff were on ground. This case underscores the importance of early presentation and rapid response,” he noted.
During the same interaction, Ahmed also renewed calls for the inclusion of state and private hospitals in Nigeria’s centralised housemanship system for newly qualified medical doctors.
He said the move would help address the growing shortage of housemanship slots for fresh medical graduates.
“Housemanship is a critical period where young doctors receive hands-on training before proceeding for their NYSC. While most federal tertiary hospitals conduct housemanship, the available quota is simply not enough,” he said.
Ahmed explained that housemanship placement is determined by capacity, including the number of beds, specialists and facilities available, rather than arbitrary figures.
“It’s not like a classroom where you can just increase numbers. If state governments key into this centralised system, it will help significantly in solving the problem of inadequate housemanship spaces,” he added.
He said recommendations presented by the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria at the Senate session would go a long way in reforming the system if fully implemented.
