Snake bite: Senate calls for mandatory antivenom in hospitals

The Senate has called on the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure the procurement and nationwide availability of antivenoms in public and private hospitals.

This is according to a statement by Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, during plenary deliberations.

The call follows growing concerns over preventable deaths linked to the absence of life-saving antidotes in health facilities, especially in high-risk regions across the country.

According to Senator Akpabio, Nigeria must urgently strengthen its emergency healthcare response to prevent avoidable fatalities.

The resolution followed the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos West), which drew attention to the urgent need for federal and state governments to guarantee adequate stocking, availability, and access to life-saving antidotes and emergency medicines nationwide.

While presenting the motion, Idiat, a former Lagos State Deputy Governor, noted that Nigeria continues to witness a rise in medical emergencies, including snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses, and other forms of envenomation.

The controversy began with the tragic death of Abuja, a 26-year-old rising singer, Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, known professionally as Nanyah, who was bitten by a snake inside her home on January 31, 2026.

According to reports, friends and members of her choir said she was asleep in her residence in the Lugbe area of Abuja when a venomous snake bit her on the wrist

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that early access to medical care is critical for victims of snakebite envenoming. Victims should be transported to a healthcare facility without delay.

This approach reduces the risk of complications and helps ensure the victim receives timely, effective medical treatment.