Olisa Agbakoba, senior advocate of Nigeria, has called for an immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s health regulatory framework over what he described as recurring and preventable deaths caused by medical negligence.
January 13, 2026 11:09 amOlisa Agbakoba, senior advocate of Nigeria , has called for an immediate overhaul of Nigeria’s health regulatory framework over what he described as recurring and preventable deaths caused by medical negligence.
Agbakoba’s words were contained in a statement issued in reaction to the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, one of the twin sons of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a renowned author.Adichie has since Euracare Hospital in Lagos with a legal notice, alleging that medical negligence and professional impropriety led to the death of her 21-month-old son.Agbakoba, who said he has handled a plethora of medical negligence cases for over 20 years, said the incident once again exposes the scale of incompetence in some Nigerian hospitals. The former Nigeria Bar Association chairman said he was not shocked that “such a simple procedure at an acclaimed, reputable hospital has ended so terribly”. He said propofol, which was reportedly administered to the child, “requires exceptional care due to its potential for cardio-respiratory failure”.”An overdose can be fatal, and there appears to be a strong possibility of overdose in this case,” he said. Agbakoba commended the Lagos state government for committing to investigating the incident and Euracare Hospital for agreeing to cooperate with investigators.”I have witnessed instances where medical records are altered to avoid culpability,” he said.He said he was once misdiagnosed for an ailment that could have had serious consequences. The senior advocate said his brother almost died following an operation performed by a doctor who presented himself as a surgeon. He cited several other cases, including that of Peju Ugboma and other Nigerians who died or suffered permanent damage following alleged negligent medical procedures.”These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a systemic crisis demanding urgent intervention,” he said. Agbakoba said his law firm currently has over 20 complaints and is actively handling 25 medical negligence cases.He blamed the situation on what he described as the failure of Nigeria’s legal and regulatory framework governing the health sector.Advertisement He said chief medical officers and health inspectors were responsible for oversight, compliance, and accountability.Advertisement According to him, over-centralisation under the federal ministry of health has weakened state-level oversight.”There is no requirement for routine submission of reports, no systematic inspections, and no effective enforcement of professional standards,” he said. Agbakoba said ministers and commissioners of health now combine policy-making with regulatory enforcement.”There must be a clear separation of functions,” he said. “Ministers and commissioners should focus on policy development and strategic direction, whilst independent health inspectors and regulatory bodies must be empowered to enforce standards.”Agbakoba said the case involving Adichie’s family was “only the visible tip of a much larger crisis”. “The state of medical care in Nigeria has reached a critical point, requiring emergency action,” he said.He also demanded the reinstatement of the office of chief medical officer at the federal and state levels.He called for independent investigation mechanisms with powers to preserve medical records and demanded legislative reforms to update Nigeria’s health laws. “This is a matter of national emergency that demands immediate legislative and executive action,” he said.
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