The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, has disclosed that it could not save Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, because she arrived at the hospital too late after being bitten by a snake.

Saad Ahmed, chief medical director of FMC Jabi, said Nwangene, 26, was brought to the hospital more than two hours after the snakebite, by which time the venom had already caused severe systemic damage. He spoke on Saturday on the sidelines of the senate committee on health’s 2026 budget defence session.

Ahmed explained that the snake involved was a cobra, describing it as highly poisonous and stressing that time is critical in such cases. He dismissed claims circulating on social media that the hospital failed to administer anti-venom, stating that two doses were promptly given upon her arrival.

According to him, anti-venom is most effective when administered within minutes of a bite, ideally within 10 to 15 minutes, noting that the delayed presentation significantly reduced her chances of survival despite medical intervention.

The CMD described the incident as a wake-up call for hospitals that may not be adequately prepared for emergencies but maintained that FMC Abuja had anti-snake venom in stock and fully mobilised its emergency response team.

Ahmed also supported calls for state and private hospitals to be included in the centralised housemanship system for newly graduated doctors, saying the move would help address shortages caused by limited quotas in federal tertiary hospitals.

Nwangene’s death, which occurred on February 3, triggered widespread public outrage and renewed debate over Nigeria’s emergency healthcare response. In response, the senate urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and state governments to establish coordinated emergency referral systems linking public and private hospitals to improve access to urgent, life-saving care.