The Lagos State Government has mandated a comprehensive and independent investigation into the tragic death of Nkanu Nnamdi Esege, the 21-month-old son of world-renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The infant died under controversial circumstances at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
Government Orders Immediate Investigation
In an official statement released on Saturday, January 12, 2026, and signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, the state government expressed its condolences to Adichie and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege. The government described the loss of a child as a devastating tragedy.
The statement emphasized that the Lagos State Government places the highest premium on human life and maintains zero tolerance for medical negligence. Consequently, Governor Sanwo-Olu has directed the Health Facility Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) to immediately launch a thorough, transparent probe.
HEFAMAA has already visited the Euracare facility as part of the ongoing inquiry. The agency will conduct an extensive review of all allegations, medical records, and reports related to the case. It will also collaborate with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other regulatory bodies to ensure a credible investigation.
Expert Rebuttal and Allegations of Negligence
The state's action follows a public dispute between the hospital and a medical expert, Dr Anthea Esege-Nwandu, who is also the aunt of the deceased child. Dr Esege-Nwandu, a fellow of the American College of Physicians with a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins, issued a detailed rebuttal to Euracare's initial statement.
She accused the hospital of significant failures in care. According to her, the child was medically stable and scheduled for an evacuation flight to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore when the incident occurred.
Dr Esege-Nwandu listed several alleged breaches of international medical standards:
- The child was on oxygen and given sedation but did not receive continuous oxygen therapy.
- There was no continuous monitoring of the child's blood oxygen levels, pulse, or respiration.
- The anesthesiologist allegedly carried the sedated child on his shoulder to the ICU, disconnecting his oxygen, with no visual or electronic monitoring during the transfer.
"Since there was no monitoring, is it possible to accurately document when the child stopped breathing or for how long he stopped before he was resuscitated?" she questioned.
Seeking Accountability and Justice
This high-profile case has brought intense scrutiny to private healthcare standards in Lagos. The state government's swift directive to HEFAMAA underscores the seriousness with which it is treating the allegations made by the Adichie family and their medical representative.
The investigation aims to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the toddler's death. The outcome is eagerly awaited by the public, as it will test Lagos's stated commitment to eradicating medical malpractice and ensuring accountability in its health sector.
The grieving family, alongside many Nigerians, now awaits the findings of the official probe, hoping it will provide answers and ensure such a tragedy does not recur.
