The Nigerian Senate has directed the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to take immediate steps to guarantee the procurement, quality assurance, proper storage, and consistent availability of safe, effective, and affordable antivenoms in hospitals across the country, following the recent death of a 26-year-old singer from snakebite complications in Abuja.
The resolution, adopted after a motion on an urgent matter of national importance, highlights persistent gaps in emergency healthcare preparedness for snakebite envenoming, a condition classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.
Ifunanya Nwangene, known professionally as Nanyah and recognised for her appearance on The Voice Nigeria in 2021, died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a snake reportedly a cobra while asleep in her residence in Lugbe, Abuja. According to an account shared publicly by her close friend Kingsley Nwangene on Instagram, she felt a sharp pain, discovered the snake, and promptly alerted him around 8:30am on Sunday.
“She said, ‘Emy, don’t panic, but a snake has bitten me. I’m on my way to the hospital,’” Kingsley wrote.
She arranged a commercial motorcycle ride to Divine Health Hospital at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe, but was informed the facility lacked antivenom. She then proceeded to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, arriving around 10am. Kingsley remained in phone contact throughout.
At FMC Jabi, staff asked routine questions as her condition deteriorated. She repeatedly inquired about antivenom availability. “She told me they said they would give her a drip,” Kingsley recounted. Doctors removed a tourniquet she had applied herself and advised calm. “She told me, ‘Emy, they have removed the thing I used to tie my hand.’ I felt relieved because she was finally at the hospital. I believed the doctors knew better,” he added.
Despite interventions, Nwangene succumbed to the effects of the venom. Videos that later circulated online depicted a snake catcher removing a large snake, identified by onlookers as a cobra, from her apartment. Some reports indicated additional snakes were found in the vicinity.
Nwangene, originally from Enugu State, gained prominence on The Voice Nigeria for her powerful soprano voice, earning the nickname “Soprano Queen.” She blended classical, jazz, R&B, soul, and choral elements, and remained active in Abuja’s music scene, particularly with choral groups like the Amemuso Choir and the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society Choir. Colleagues described her as a “joy-giver” with an “angelic voice.” She was planning her first solo concert.
Her body was exhumed and relocated to Enugu State at her father’s request, according to Sam Ezugwu, leader of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society Choir.
The Senate’s directive prioritises high-risk regions, where snakebites occur more frequently, and emphasises that antivenoms and other critical antidotes should form part of routine emergency healthcare provisions in both public and private facilities.
Snakebite envenoming remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. Estimates from various sources, including statements by the Minister of State for Health in 2021 and recent alignments with WHO data, indicate between 15,000 and 20,000 cases annually, with around 2,000 deaths. The carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) accounts for over 60% of reported cases in many areas, though cobras and other species contribute to fatalities, particularly in neurotoxic envenomings.
High-incidence zones are predominantly in rural savanna regions, including parts of the Benue Valley, north-central and north-eastern states such as Gombe, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Bauchi, where agricultural activities, herding, and seasonal flooding increase human-snake encounters. Rural dwellers, farmers, herders, and children face elevated risks due to occupational exposure, poor housing, and limited healthcare access. Many victims initially seek traditional remedies, contributing to under-reporting and higher complications like amputations, disabilities, or death.
In urban settings like Abuja, incidents are less common but not unheard of; Nwangene’s case marks at least the third reported fatal snakebite in the Federal Capital Territory in recent times, sparking broader concern about preparedness even in the capital.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of Nwangene during plenary. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described her as a promising Nigerian whose death represented a significant loss.
The incident has renewed attention on systemic issues in antivenom supply chains, storage, and distribution, as well as the need for public awareness on immediate first aid and prompt hospital presentation. Delays in accessing effective antivenom remain a leading factor in preventable fatalities.
