Human rights activist and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis of medical negligence in Nigeria. In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Adebo Ogundoyin, Agbakoba calls for immediate and sweeping reforms in healthcare regulation at the state level to prevent recurring, preventable deaths linked to medical negligence.
Agbakoba's concerns are fueled by the recent tragic death of Nkanu Nnamdi, one of the twin sons of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege. This death occurred following a routine medical procedure at a private hospital in Lagos, highlighting the systemic weaknesses in Nigeria's healthcare oversight system.
With over two decades of experience in medical malpractice litigation, Agbakoba describes the situation as a systemic healthcare crisis. He points to preventable deaths from routine procedures, inadequate pre-operative assessments, monitoring failures, improper medication administration, and the absence of independent oversight mechanisms as key issues. Agbakoba also raises concerns about alleged tampering with medical records to evade liability, weak accountability systems that allow negligent practitioners to operate without consequences, and the over-centralisation of regulatory authority within state ministries of health.
The activist laments the disappearance or ineffectiveness of older supervisory structures, such as Chief Medical Officers and Health Inspectors, which once ensured compliance and accountability. He also criticises the chronic underfunding of the sector, noting that many states have failed to meet Nigeria's commitment under the 2001 Abuja Declaration to allocate at least 15% of annual budgets to healthcare.
To address these challenges, Agbakoba urges State Houses of Assembly to enact a unified State Clinical Negligence and Patient Safety Law, codify clear standards of care, and establish independent State Healthcare Quality and Safety Commissions. He also calls for comprehensive patient rights protections, including guaranteed access to medical records within seven days, the right to second opinions, effective complaints mechanisms, and the mandatory presence of independent patient advocates in healthcare facilities.
Agbakoba emphasizes the urgency of coordinated action, noting that the current division of responsibilities between federal bodies and state governments has created gaps that negligent practitioners exploit. He argues that strong state-led reforms, combined with reinforced federal oversight, are essential to building a healthcare system grounded in safety, transparency, accountability, and respect for human life.
"The time to act is now," Agbakoba warns. "Without urgent reforms, preventable tragedies will continue to erode public confidence in Nigeria's healthcare system."
