The Presidency has urged Nigerians to take extra measures to prevent snakes from invading their environments.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, stated this on Monday, February 2, while reacting to the death of popular Abuja singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, fondly called Nanya.
Fasua also spoke on anti-venom shortages which many attributed to the singer’s death.
While sympathising with the deceased’s family for the loss, he wrote, “We are in snake season. When there is heat, they come out. They sunbathe. Then they like hiding inside houses. They live in ecosystems. They also never work together. So, seeing two inside one room is really odd. They snack on each other,” Fasua said.
Ifunanya, also fondly called the “Soprano Queen”, died on Saturday after she was reportedly bitten by a cobra at her residence in Lugbe, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, has since sparked intense public debate, with many Nigerians questioning how a preventable death could happen in the nation’s capital if life-saving anti-venom medications are available.
The singer reportedly booked her rider to Divine Health Hospital, located at the Trade Fair Mall in Lugbe but she was allegedly told that the facility did not have anti-venom and could not treat her. She proceeded to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, afterwards at about 10 a.m.
Speaking further on the incident, Fasua said, “Not everything is politics. Your whining candidate will not provide anti venom for all hospitals, private and public. Presidents are not for petty work but big policies. A president is not a medicine hawker. If he’s going around weeping with every mourner and checking every hospital for anti-venom, he won’t have time to think. And what about other lifesaving drug? How many will we pursue?” he said.
He urged Nigerians to keep their environment safe from snake.
“If you have rats or toads around or thick carpet bushes, you are creating an ecosystem. Block under your door. And invest in fumigation at times like this especially. Jack your landlord to do the needful or cooperate with other tenants. Dogs can also help. They kill snakes. Cats don’t. Keep learning. Open your eyes always to notice creepy crawlers. Stay clean. Keep places lighted too,” he added.
The remarks come amid growing public anger over alleged shortages of anti-snake venom in hospitals the deceased visited.
A relative of the singer, Kingsley Nwangene in an emotional video shared on Instagram, narrated how he received a distress call from Nanyah at about 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, explaining how she had been beaten by a snake.
Nwangene explained that Nanyah told him that she had been asleep when she felt a sharp pain. On opening her eyes, she saw a snake in the room, adding that he stayed on the phone with her throughout the ordeal.
The deceased’s brother narrated how the singer arrived at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, and staff at the Emergency Unit began asking routine questions while the singer’s condition deteriorated.
He said doctors removed what was tied around Nanyah’s arm to slow the spread of the venom and asked her to remain calm.
“She told me, ‘Emy, they have removed the thing I used to tie my hand,” noting that he felt relieved because she was finally at the hospital and believed the doctors knew better, but she later succumbed to the effects of the venom.
The leader of the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO) Choir, Sam Ezugwu, told the BBC that the deceased’s father ordered the repatriation of his daughter’s body after receiving confirmation of her death.
The singer’s body has consequently been moved to Enugu State.
FMC Abuja reacts
FCM released a statement on Sunday February 1, to explain its side of the story.
“We wish to address the circulating discussion on social media concerning the unfortunate case of Ms. Ifunanya Lucy Nwagene, who tragically passed away due to neurotoxic complications following a snake bite on January 31, 2026..
“We want to clarify that the management team at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja acted promptly and with the utmost care upon Ms. Nwagene’s arrival. Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.
“After a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Ms. Nwagene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite. Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer. Our team of professionals worked diligently to provide CPR and other life-saving measures; however, despite these efforts, we were unable to revive her.”
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.