The acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has publicly accused a private hospital in Lagos of medical negligence following the tragic death of her 21-month-old son. The incident has sparked a legal confrontation and renewed a fierce debate about the state of Nigeria's healthcare system.
A Family's Tragic Loss and Legal Action
Nkanu Nnamdi, one of Adichie's twin boys born via surrogacy in 2024, died on 6 January after a brief illness. The child was the son of Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege. In a heartfelt WhatsApp message to family and friends that was later leaked, Adichie described the experience as "like living your worst nightmare." Her representatives have confirmed the authenticity of the messages.
According to reports from Arise News, solicitors acting for the couple served Euracare hospital in Lagos with a legal notice dated 10 January. The notice demands the hospital provide CCTV footage, electronic monitoring data, and the toddler's complete medical records within seven days. It alleges critical lapses during the child's admission and a lack of basic resuscitation equipment, which the family claims amounts to medical negligence.
Allegations of a "Fatally Casual" Error
In her private messages, Adichie made specific and grave allegations against the medical facility. She stated that a doctor directly told her the resident anaesthesiologist had administered an overdose of propofol, a powerful sedative. Despite attempts at resuscitation and the use of a ventilator, Nkanu suffered a cardiac arrest which led to his death. Adichie characterised the anaesthesiologist's conduct as "fatally casual and careless."
Tragically, the child died just one day before he was scheduled for a medical evacuation to the renowned Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, USA, close to the family's home. He had been referred to Euracare from another Lagos hospital for diagnostic procedures, including an echocardiogram and a brain MRI.
Hospital Response and National Outcry
In response to the leaked WhatsApp messages, Euracare hospital issued a statement rejecting the suggestion that medical negligence caused the death. The hospital asserted that its staff had "provided care in line with established clinical protocols and internationally accepted medical standards" for what it described as a "critically ill" toddler upon admission. The hospital has not yet publicly responded to the formal legal notice.
The case has provoked an outpouring of sympathy for the family, including condolences from Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu. The Lagos state government has also acknowledged the "profound tragedy" and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The incident has sharply refocused attention on the chronic underfunding and challenges within Nigeria's health sector. The country has an abysmal doctor-to-patient ratio of approximately 1:9,083, and typically allocates less than 5% of its annual budget to healthcare. This environment has made medical tourism common for wealthier Nigerians and led to frequent reports of botched procedures and inadequate emergency services.
Former World Bank vice-president Oby Ezekwesili commented that Nigeria requires "deep reforms" to prevent needless deaths like Nkanu's, which she attributed to systemic "governance failures." The case underscores a urgent national conversation about healthcare accountability and investment.
