Private hospital owners and managers under the aegis of the Guild of Medical Directors have urged Nigerians to allow due process to take its course in the ongoing investigations involving the death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the late son of a renowned author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
They cautioned against premature conclusions and trials by public opinion, particularly commentary on social media.
The medical directors stressed that investigations within the health sector must be guided by facts, professional ethics, and established procedures, noting that prejudice and misinformation could undermine public confidence in medical institutions and regulatory bodies.
The medical directors’ words were contained in a statement issued in reaction to the death of the 21-month-old son of the renowned novelist.
Adichie had alleged medical negligence in the circumstances surrounding the death of her son, who reportedly died on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at a Lagos hospital.
The incident has generated widespread concern over patient safety in Nigeria’s hospitals, with many commentators on social media calling for heavy sanctions on the medical facility.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that there have been rising cases of alleged medical negligence, which have led to loss of lives and permanent disabilities among less fortunate patients.
The Guild of Medical Directors is the umbrella body representing private hospital owners, managers, and healthcare investors across the country.
Reacting to the issue, the GMD National President, Dr. Abiodun Kuti, urged Nigerians to allow the ongoing investigations by relevant authorities to proceed transparently and without prejudice.
“As a nation in mourning, we must hold two important principles at the same time: every patient and family deserves safety, dignity, transparency, and justice, while every healthcare professional and institution deserves due process, fairness, and protection from trial by social media,” Kuti said in a statement made available to PUNCH Healthwise on Monday.
According to him, accountability must be firm and enforceable where negligence is established, as public trust cannot be rebuilt without it.
Kuti noted that respecting institutional processes and awaiting the outcome of the probe will not only ensure fairness to all parties involved but also strengthen accountability and trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
However, the GMD president emphasised the importance of clear, evidence-based communication where allegations are not proven, to prevent misinformation and undue erosion of confidence in the health system.
Kuti, who is a consultant radiologist, cautioned against using the incident as a basis for broad condemnation of healthcare workers or framing the matter as a public versus private or local versus foreign healthcare debate.
“A rush to shut down facilities without robust investigative and corrective systems could reduce access to care, worsen medical tourism, and weaken the sector. Balance must not mean silence, but system-building,” he added.
He explained that Nigeria’s health sector functions as a single ecosystem, facing shared challenges such as workforce shortages, uneven standards, weak emergency preparedness, inconsistent regulation, and chronic underfunding across both public and private facilities.
Kuti, however, sympathises with the Adichie family and reaffirms the medical directors’ support for transparent investigations guided by evidence.
He also urged national stakeholders, including government, regulators, financiers, insurers, and healthcare providers, to use the tragedy as an opportunity for meaningful health system reform.
“Nigeria is grieving, but this moment must also mark a turning point towards safer, more reliable, and more accountable healthcare for all,” he said.
On his part, the FCT Chairman of the Guild, Dr. Iseko Iseko, called for a broader national review of healthcare delivery, stressing the need for a more integrated approach between public and private providers.
“Nigeria urgently needs a National Healthcare Compact that treats public and private care as complementary parts of one system, aligned by enforceable standards, shared referral pathways, emergency protocols, and accountability mechanisms,” he said.
The medical directors, however, commended the prompt steps already taken by the Federal Government and relevant regulatory bodies to initiate reviews and investigations into the matter.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the FG has established a National Task Force on Clinical Governance and Patient Safety in response to the rising cases of alleged medical negligence across public and private hospitals in the country.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the task force was aimed at addressing the crisis by preventing medical errors and improving patient safety.
“The National Task Force will serve as a strategic platform for integrating quality and patient safety into all aspects of health service delivery.
“This initiative aligns with global calls by the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and The Lancet Global Health Commission for low- and middle-income countries to move beyond access alone and prioritise high-quality, people-centred care as the foundation of Universal Health Coverage,” Pate said in a statement.
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