The Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) has officially announced its monitoring of grave medical negligence allegations following the tragic death of Nkanu Nnamdi, the 21-month-old son of world-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
The toddler passed away on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, after a brief illness that escalated during a holiday in Lagos. While an initial family statement requested privacy during their “profound loss,” a detailed account attributed to Adichie has since surfaced, accusing Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Victoria Island of fatal lapses in care.
According to the statement confirmed by her media team, Nkanu was referred to Euracare on January 6 for an MRI scan and the insertion of a central line in preparation for an emergency medical evacuation to the United States.
Adichie alleges that her son was administered an excessive dose of propofol by the attending anaesthetist to ensure sedation during the procedure. The author further claims that the medical team failed to properly monitor the child after sedation, leading to him becoming unresponsive, suffering seizures, and eventually experiencing cardiac arrest. She described the actions as “criminally negligent” and “fatally casual.”
Speaking on Saturday, January 10, the National President of the NSA, Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, confirmed that the society is tracking the situation closely.
“The society awaits more information before commenting further,” Mohammed stated. “Any investigation will focus on the verification of registration status, compliance with approved scopes of practice, and adherence to established medical protocols.”
He added that while the hospital is likely conducting its own internal review, an independent investigative panel may be formed depending on whether the family decides to pursue legal action.
Euracare Hospital Reacts
In a statement issued on Saturday, Euracare Multispecialist Hospital expressed its deepest sympathies to the family, describing the loss as “heartbreaking.” However, the facility clarified that the patient arrived in a “critically ill” state after being treated at two other pediatric centers. The hospital maintained that its clinical team followed international standards and has commenced its own detailed internal investigation into the circumstances.
National Outcry
The tragedy has sparked widespread mourning and a renewed debate over healthcare standards in Nigeria. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was among the first to offer condolences, describing Adichie as a “literary icon” and empathizing with the family’s “immense grief.”
As of Saturday evening, the Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists remains in a fact-finding phase, awaiting official records to determine if professional negligence contributed to the untimely death of the young Nkanu.
