The death of Abuja-based singer and The Voice Nigeria contestant, Ifunanya Nwangene, has thrown a harsh spotlight on emergency healthcare readiness in the Federal Capital Territory, as residents question how a preventable medical emergency turned fatal in the nation’s capital.
Nwangene, 26, reportedly died after a snake bite in Lugbe over the weekend, having been taken to two hospitals that were said to lack anti-venom. Her death is the third known fatal snake bite incident recorded in Abuja in recent years, raising concerns beyond environmental hazards to the state of emergency medical preparedness.
While snake bites are not uncommon in peri-urban communities, public health experts note that deaths are largely avoidable when prompt treatment and anti-venom are available. Residents argue that the tragedy reflects deeper systemic issues—poor hospital preparedness, slow emergency response, and weak coordination in critical care delivery.
The earlier deaths of a Nigerian Air Force operative in 2021 and a young man in Kwali Area Council in 2015 further reinforce concerns that emergency response mechanisms in the FCT have not significantly improved over the years.
For many residents, the fear is not just about snakes but about what happens after an emergency occurs.
“In a city like Abuja, no one should die because a hospital doesn’t have anti-venom,” said John Nduka, a Lugbe resident. He warned that overstretched public hospitals and poorly equipped facilities have left residents vulnerable, especially in fast-growing suburbs where infrastructure development has failed to keep pace with population growth.
Urban expansion into swampy and bushy areas, coupled with poor drainage and waste management, has increased human contact with reptiles. Yet residents say little attention has been paid to equipping health facilities to deal with the resulting risks.
In Lokogoma, Karu and Lugbe, residents report frequent sightings of snakes, with some describing repeated incidents within residential estates. A Sunnyvale Estate resident said a large python was recently killed in the area, while others confirmed killing snakes inside their apartments.
Public health advocates are now calling on the FCT Administration to treat snake bites as a medical emergency priority by ensuring that designated hospitals are stocked with anti-venom, emergency staff are trained, and referral systems are strengthened.
For many Abuja residents, Nwangene’s death has become more than a tragic loss—it is a grim reminder that in emergencies, survival may depend less on location and more on whether the system is prepared to respond.
Snake Bite Death Exposes Emergency Health Gaps in Abuja
