RismadarVoice Reporters
February 3, 2026
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents that antivenom is fully stocked, readily available in all FCTA-owned hospitals and public health centres, following the death of popular singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly died from a snakebite on Saturday.
The incident, which sparked public outrage and allegations of medical negligence, prompted the FCTA to issue a clarification on the availability and management of life-saving antivenom treatment within the territory.
In a statement issued on Monday night, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, urged residents to remain calm, stressing that the FCT maintains adequate supplies of both polyvalent and multivalent antivenoms.
She explained that antivenom stocking is guided by collaboration with veterinary experts to identify prevalent snake species in the FCT, adding that the drugs are centrally stored at the Abuja Central Medical Stores and directly managed by the Secretariat to ensure quality control, cold-chain integrity, and constant availability.
The statement followed claims that Nwangene could not access antivenom when she was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi. The hospital, however, denied the allegation, stating that its medical team responded promptly and provided appropriate care.
According to FMC management, the singer suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snakebite. It said she was stabilised and being prepared for transfer to the Intensive Care Unit when her condition suddenly deteriorated. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency interventions, she could not be revived.
Condoling with the family, Dr Fasawe described the incident as deeply painful and urged residents to draw lessons on emergency preparedness, noting that snakebites remain a preventable public health threat.
She warned that venomous snakes such as cobras, vipers, and puff adders are common in both urban and peri-urban areas of the FCT, advising that all snakebites should be treated as venomous until confirmed otherwise.
The mandate secretary also outlined safety and emergency response measures, urging residents to wear protective clothing in farms and bushy areas, clear debris around homes, avoid dark areas at night, and never attempt to handle snakes.
In the event of a bite, she advised residents to stay calm, immobilize the affected limb, remove tight objects, gently clean the wound, proceed immediately to a hospital with antivenom, warning against harmful practices such as cutting or sucking the wound, applying tourniquets, ice, or herbal remedies.
Dr Fasawe further disclosed that the FCTA has strengthened emergency response through improved road networks and the deployment of 12 newly procured ambulances, while cautioning that both public and private hospitals would be sanctioned for failure to comply with established emergency treatment protocols.
