The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently enforce the availability of snake anti-venoms and other life-saving antidotes in hospitals nationwide, following the tragic death of Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah.Nwangene, a 26-year-old rising star who gained prominence after appearing on

The Voice Nigeria in 2021, died on January 31, 2026, after being bitten by a snake (reportedly a cobra) at her residence in Lugbe, Abuja. Reports indicate she was rushed to multiple hospitals but succumbed due to delays reportedly linked to the unavailability of anti-venom at the facilities.

Her death sparked widespread grief in Nigeria’s music community and renewed public concern over gaps in emergency medical preparedness.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Senate adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (APC, Lagos West), titled “Urgent Need for the Federal and State Governments to Ensure Adequate Stocking, Availability, and Access to Life-Saving Antidotes and Emergency Medicines in Public and Private Hospitals Across Nigeria.

”Presenting the motion, Senator Adebule highlighted the rising incidence of medical emergencies in the country, including snakebites, scorpion stings, poisoning, drug overdoses, and other envenomations.

She emphasized that these cases demand immediate administration of specific antidotes to avert preventable fatalities, as tragically illustrated by Nwangene’s case.

Lawmakers described the incident as exposing serious deficiencies in emergency readiness, noting that many public and private hospitals either fail to stock essential antidotes like anti-venoms or maintain insufficient supplies, leading to treatment delays, patient referrals, and avoidable deaths.

In its resolutions, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Health to promptly develop and enforce national guidelines mandating minimum stock levels of snake anti-venoms, other critical antidotes, and emergency medicines in designated hospitals across the country.

The chamber further called on the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to prioritize the procurement, quality assurance, proper storage, and nationwide distribution of safe, effective, and affordable anti-venoms—particularly in high-risk areas.

Additionally, the Senate directed state governments, through their Ministries of Health and Hospital Management Boards, to immediately audit public and private hospitals in their jurisdictions to verify compliance with antidote-stocking and emergency preparedness standards.

In a solemn moment, senators observed a minute’s silence in honor of the late Nanyah, paying tribute to her promising talent and life cut short at the age of 26.