Chimamanda: Medical Directors Urge Nigerians to Let Investigation Continue Fairly and without Bias

Private hospital owners and managers under the Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) have urged Nigerians to allow due process in the ongoing investigation into the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the late 21-month-old son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The guild warned against drawing premature conclusions or passing judgment on social media, stressing that health sector investigations must be guided by facts, professional ethics, and established procedures. They noted that misinformation and prejudice could undermine public confidence in medical institutions and regulatory bodies.

The GMD, which represents private hospital owners, managers, and healthcare investors nationwide, released the statement following Adichie’s allegations of medical negligence surrounding her son’s death on January 7, 2026, at a Lagos hospital. The incident has reignited national concern over patient safety in Nigerian hospitals.

GMD National President, Dr. Abiodun Kuti, called on the public to allow the investigation to proceed transparently and without bias. “Every patient and family deserves safety, dignity, transparency, and justice, while every healthcare professional and institution deserves due process, fairness, and protection from trial by social media,” Kuti said.

He emphasised that accountability must be enforced where negligence is confirmed, and that respecting institutional processes ensures fairness and strengthens trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He also highlighted the importance of clear, evidence-based communication to prevent misinformation and avoid eroding public confidence in the sector.

Kuti warned against using the tragedy to broadly condemn healthcare workers or frame it as a public versus private, or local versus foreign healthcare debate. “Rushing to close facilities without robust investigative and corrective systems could reduce access to care, worsen medical tourism, and weaken the sector. Balance does not mean silence—it means system-building,” he added.

He explained that Nigeria’s health sector functions as a single ecosystem facing shared challenges, including workforce shortages, uneven standards, weak emergency preparedness, inconsistent regulation, and chronic underfunding across public and private facilities.

Kuti sympathised with the Adichie family and reiterated the guild’s commitment to transparent, evidence-based investigations. He also urged national stakeholders—government, regulators, financiers, insurers, and healthcare providers—to use the tragedy to drive meaningful health system reforms. “This moment must mark a turning point towards safer, more reliable, and accountable healthcare for all,” he said.

FCT Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Iseko Iseko, called for a broader national review of healthcare delivery, advocating for an integrated approach between public and private providers. “Nigeria urgently needs a National Healthcare Compact that treats public and private care as complementary parts of one system, aligned by enforceable standards, shared referral pathways, emergency protocols, and accountability mechanisms,” he said.

The medical directors also commended the prompt action of the Federal Government and regulatory bodies in initiating reviews and investigations into the case. In response to rising medical negligence cases, the government has established a National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the task force aims to prevent medical errors and improve patient safety, integrating quality and patient-centered care into all aspects of health service delivery. “This initiative aligns with global calls by the World Health Organisation, World Bank, OECD, and The Lancet Global Health Commission for low- and middle-income countries to prioritise high-quality, people-centred care as the foundation of Universal Health Coverage,” he said.