Negligence Worsens Nigeria’s Healthcare Crisis

Nigeria’s healthcare system is in urgent need of reform, as repeated tragedies continue to expose its deep flaws. On January 7, news emerged that renowned author Chimamanda Adichie lost her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, at a Lagos hospital, citing negligence by doctors at Euracare Hospital. Adichie alleged that her son was given too much sedative and denied oxygen during a critical episode, resulting in cardiac arrest—a loss that suspension of the anaesthetist cannot undo.

Just days later, another case of medical negligence occurred in Kano State, where Aishatu Umar, a mother of five, died after corrective surgery at Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital. The operation was required because surgeons had left scissors inside her body during a previous procedure, leaving her in pain for four months.

Complaints about the health system are widespread. Poorly trained, underpaid, and demotivated doctors, nurses, and health workers are central to the crisis. Following the Adichie incident, Nollywood actress Toyin Lawani accused the same Lagos hospital of complications after a spinal implant costing N100 million. Architect Alfred Ogene has also filed an N800 million lawsuit against R-Jolad Hospital, alleging gross negligence that caused permanent damage to his urinary system and significant personal and financial distress.

The problem extends to unregistered and unregulated health facilities, which proliferate due to weak oversight and corruption. Even in high-profile hospitals, misdiagnoses and overworked medical staff—sometimes clocking 100-hour weeks, far above the British Medical Association’s recommended 48 hours—put patients at risk.

Patient care is often compromised by the pursuit of revenue. Long wait times, severe doctor shortages (ranging from 0.3 per 1,000 to 1 per 9,000 patients compared to WHO’s recommendation of 1 per 600), and the concentration of doctors in urban areas leave rural communities critically underserved. Strikes by the Joint Health Sector Unions since November 15 have worsened the situation, and disputes over salary suspensions threaten further escalation.

Government funding has also fallen short. Despite the Abuja Declaration’s target of 15% of the federal budget for health, the 2026 allocation of N2.48 trillion amounts to roughly N10,400 per citizen per year, or N870 per month—insufficient for a population exceeding 230 million. With public health expenditure below 5% of GDP and over 70% of healthcare costs paid out-of-pocket, Nigerian families face extreme financial strain, driving many into poverty during medical emergencies. Wealthier Nigerians spend an estimated $1.1 billion annually on medical tourism abroad.

To revive the sector, health insurance should be extended to the poorest 83 million Nigerians, at an estimated cost of N1.2 trillion annually. States and local governments must strengthen more than 30,000 Primary Health Centres and shift focus toward preventive care. Investment in ambulances and first-aid equipment is critical to avoid situations like former boxing champion Anthony Joshua being transported in a police van after a crash.

Improving the welfare and working conditions of health workers is vital to stop the mass exodus of doctors and nurses. Negligence and misdiagnosis must no longer be tolerated, and health professionals found culpable should face strict penalties. Victims should have the means to seek justice, including access to a compensation fund.

Initiatives such as the Nigeria Power for Health Program, which aims to provide sustainable electricity to 30% of hospitals by 2027, must be fully implemented. Only a functional, accountable healthcare system can protect lives rather than putting them at risk.