Dr Olisa Agbakoba has called on the Federal Government to immediately restablish an independent Health Regulatory Authority with powers to inspect facilities, enforce standards, and sanction non-compliance public and private hospitals.

Agbakoba, SAN Senior Partner & Head Medical Practice, Olisa Agbakoba Legal, made the call today, citing the case of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s son , and other Nigerians who have died as a result of medical negligences.

While commiserating with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, Agbakoba noted that the fundamental problem underlying these tragedies is the complete failure of the legal and regulatory framework governing Nigeria’s health sector.

Agbakoba noted that in the old days, the healthcare system functioned under a robust supervisory structure. Chief Medical Officers and Health Inspectors were responsible for oversight of critical care, ensuring compliance with standards, and holding practitioners accountable.

“The last Chief Medical Officer of Nigeria was Dr. Samuel Layinka Manuwa.Today, under the National Health Act and State Health Laws, this essential regulatory infrastructure no longer exists.

He emphasised, ” Our health sector has become over centralised under the Federal Minister of Health, causing states to become lax in oversight responsibilities.

As a result, health facilities and medical practitioners operate with alarming impunity.

There is no requirement for routine submission of reports, no systematic inspections, and no effective enforcement of professional standards. Ministers of Health and Commissioners of Health have assumed roles that conflate policy-making with regulatory enforcement—a fundamental governance failure.

There must be a clear separation of functions: Health Ministers and Commissioners should focus on policy development and strategic direction, whilst independent Health Inspectors and regulatory bodies must be empowered to enforce standards, conduct inspections, and ensure accountability,” he said.

” As a medical negligence legal specialist, I must express grave concern about the recurring incidents of absolutely preventable deaths resulting from medical negligence by health practitioners across Nigeria.

“There must be a clear separation of functions: Health Ministers and Commissioners should focus on policy development and strategic direction, whilst independent Health Inspectors and regulatory bodies must be empowered to enforce standards, conduct inspections, and ensure accountability.”

Agbakoba, therefore emphasised for:

1.Reinstitution of the Office of Chief Medical Officer at federal and state levels with clear enforcement mandates;

2. Mandatory registration and periodic inspection of all health facilities with transparent reporting requirements;

3. Independent investigation mechanisms with powers to access and preserve medical records, preventing tampering or alteration;

4. Clear separation between policy formulation and regulatory enforcement within the health sector governance structure;

5.Comprehensive legislative reform to update Nigeria’s health laws to reflect modern standards of care, accountability, and patient protection; and the time for comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s health system is long overdue.

“We cannot continue to lose precious lives to preventable medical errors whilst the regulatory framework remains in shambles.

This is a matter of national emergency that demands immediate legislative and executive action,” he said.

Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie has sued Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital to Court over the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu Nnamdi.

In a legal notice dated January 10, 2026, solicitors acting for Chimamanda and her partner, Dr Ivara Esege, alleged that the hospital, its anaesthesiologist, and attending medical personnel breached the duty of care owed to their son, who died in the early hours of Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

The notice was issued on behalf of the parents by PINHEIRO LP and signed by the founding partner, Prof Kemi Pinheiro (SAN).

The legal notice outlines multiple alleged lapses in paediatric anaesthetic and procedural care.

These include concerns about the appropriateness and cumulative dosing of propofol in a critically ill child, inadequate airway protection during deep sedation, and an alleged failure to ensure continuous physiological monitoring.

The parents further alleged that their son was transferred without supplemental oxygen, without adequate monitoring, and without sufficient accompanying medical personnel.

They also raised concerns over the availability of basic resuscitation equipment, delayed recognition and management of respiratory or cardiovascular compromise, and an overall failure to comply with established paediatric anaesthesia, patient-transfer, and safety protocols.

According to the notice, the child was referred to the hospital on January 6, 2026, from Atlantis Pediatric Hospital for a series of diagnostic and preparatory procedures.

These included an echocardiogram, a brain MRI, the insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line), and a lumbar puncture.

The procedures were reportedly part of preparations for an imminent medical evacuation to the United States, where a specialist medical team was said to be on standby to receive him.

The solicitors stated that intravenous sedation was administered using propofol.

The management of Lagos-based Euracare Multispecialist Hospital said on Saturday, ” We find it necessary, for the record, to clarify that some of the reports currently being circulated regarding the demise of Chimamanda Adichie ‘s son, contain inaccuracies.”

Chimamanda, the bereaved mother, had in a public statement, accused the hospital’s anesthesiologist to have neglected monitoring the sick child after he was given “too much propofol.”

Said Chimamanda: ” It turns out that Nkanu was NEVER monitored after being given too much propofol. The anesthesiologist had just casually carried Nkanu on his shoulder to the theater, so nobody knows when exactly Nkanu became unresponsive. How can you sedate a sick child and neglect to monitor him? Later, after the ‘central line’ procedure, the anesthesiologist casually switched off Nkanu’s oxygen and again decided to carry him on his shoulder to the ICU!The anesthesiologist was CRIMINALLY negligent. He was fatally casual and careless with the precious life of a child. No proper protocol was followed.

“The Hospital’s management, while expressing their deepest sympathies to Chimamanda and family for the loss, acknowledge that the loss of a child is beyond words, adding , ” we offer our most heartfelt condolences to his parents and the entire family.”

In the statement, the management, stated that they have commenced a detailed investigation “consistent with our clinical governance standards and best practices.”

The statement reads: ” Our facility is a reputable centre for complex medical care, led by an internationally trained and experienced clinical team.

The patient, who was critically ill, was referred to our facility for specific diagnostic procedures after receiving treatment for a period of time at two paediatric centres.

Upon arrival, our medical team immediately provided care in line with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards, including the administration of sedation where clinically indicated.In the course of his care, we worked collaboratively with external medical teams as recommended by his family and ensured that all necessary clinical support was provided.

Despite these concerted efforts, the patient sadly passed away less than 24 hours after presenting at our facility.

We remain committed to engaging transparently and responsibly with all clinical and regulatory processes.

We recognise that the family is grieving an irreplaceable loss and we shall continue to support them in any way that may bring comfort during this devastating period.As medical professionals, we carry the weight of this loss deeply.

Our priority remains compassion, patient safety, and the responsible handling of this matter, while respecting the family’s privacy and allowing due process to take its course. We continue to hold the family in our thoughts and prayers.”