The death of 26-year-old Nigerian singer Ifunanya Lucy Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Nwangene died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a venomous snake while she slept in her home in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. The venomous bite occurred when a snake, described in eyewitness accounts as a cobra, struck her, and two snakes were later found inside her residence.
Immediately after the bite, Nwangene sought urgent care. She was taken first to a nearby clinic that lacked antivenom and later to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where medical staff attempted treatment, but she succumbed to neurotoxic complications from the venom before effective intervention could be administered. Her sister-in-law, Blessing Oduche, told BBC Pidgin that precious emergency time was lost when security personnel allegedly delayed seeking immediate hospital transport to search for the snake, contributing to the delay in treatment.
Nwangene first rose to public attention as a contestant on Season 3 of The Voice Nigeria and was a member of the Amemuso Choir. Music director Sam C. Ezugwu and fellow artists, including collaborator Tbrass, expressed deep sorrow over her sudden death, with many lamenting the loss of a promising talent who had been preparing for her first solo concert and new music releases.
The circumstances of Nwangene’s death have reignited debates about systemic failures in emergency healthcare delivery, particularly the availability of life-saving antivenoms. Pharmacists under the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) have called for local production of antivenoms to ensure availability and affordability, noting Nigeria’s dependence on expensive imports and widespread shortages.
In response to the tragedy, the Nigerian Senate, led by Senator Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West), passed a resolution mandating that all public and private hospitals nationwide stock essential antidotes, including antivenoms, to prevent similar avoidable deaths. Lawmakers urged the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce guidelines ensuring that emergency drugs are safe, effective, and readily accessible.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), represented by Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of Health Services and Environment, issued a statement expressing condolences to Nwangene’s family and assuring the public that antivenoms are stocked in FCTA hospitals. Officials emphasized that snakebite should be treated as a public health priority and stressed the need for improved emergency response readiness.
Nwangene’s death has become more than a loss to the entertainment community—it has become a flashpoint in ongoing discussions about Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure, emergency preparedness, and the urgent need for reforms to ensure that preventable deaths from treatable conditions are minimized in the future.
