Akpabio Orders Nationwide Stocking of Anti-Venom After Singer Ifunanya’s Snakebite Death

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has ordered hospitals across Nigeria to urgently stock anti-venom following the tragic death of fast-rising singer Ifunanya, who reportedly died from a snakebite in Abuja, sparking nationwide outrage over emergency healthcare gaps.

Akpabio issued the directive during a Senate plenary session, where lawmakers raised serious concerns over the widespread shortage of life-saving anti-venom in Nigerian health facilities.

The Senate President called on the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately collaborate with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure the procurement, quality control, proper storage, and nationwide distribution of safe, effective, and affordable anti-venom.

According to Akpabio, the death of the young singer highlights a dangerous weakness in Nigeria’s emergency healthcare preparedness, particularly in handling snakebite cases, which remain common in many parts of the country.

The incident has triggered intense public debate and renewed demands for urgent reforms, with Nigerians questioning why critical antidotes are often unavailable in hospitals despite the recurring threat of snakebites.

Health experts and lawmakers alike have stressed that improved access to anti-venom could prevent avoidable deaths and save countless lives if treated as a national priority.