The Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Professor Saad Ahmed, has told the Senate that Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, could not be saved after a cobra bite due to her delayed arrival at the hospital.
Speaking during the 2026 budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Health, Ahmed clarified that anti-venom doses were promptly administered upon Nwangene’s arrival, but the venom had already caused systemic damage that made treatment ineffective.
He explained, “Cobra is the most poisonous snake that we know. Time is of the essence. She presented to our hospital over two hours after being bitten, by which time systemic envenomation had already begun. Two doses of anti-venom were given immediately, but the venom had already gone systemic. If she had arrived within 10 to 15 minutes, treatment would have been much more effective.”
Ahmed described the case as a wake-up call for hospitals to ensure preparedness for such emergencies. He also advocated for the inclusion of state and private hospitals in the Centralized Housemanship System for fresh medical doctors, emphasizing that the current federal hospital quotas are insufficient to accommodate all graduates.
“Housemanship is a critical period for young medical graduates to gain hands-on experience. Federal hospitals alone cannot handle the demand. Inclusion of state and private hospitals will greatly improve training capacity and help address the shortage of spaces for fresh doctors,” Ahmed said.
He concluded by reassuring the public that FMC Jabi has anti-venom stock available and a top-notch emergency response system, and that all medical staff were fully on ground during the incident.
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