Nigeria: Inquiry set for son of renowned writer Adichie
Deutsche Welle
February 26, 2026
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Nigeria's healthcare system has come under intense scrutiny following the death of the 21-month-old son of renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A Lagos coroner's court has set an inquest for April 14 to investigate the toddler’s passing, which occurred after he was admitted to a private hospital for diagnostic tests ahead of planned treatment in the United States. The family alleges medical negligence, claiming the child may have received an overdose of the anesthetic propofol during sedation for imaging procedures, leading to cardiac arrest. This case has highlighted systemic issues in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including concerns over patient safety and infrastructure.
The incident occurred after Adichie's son, Nkanu, was admitted to Euracare Multispecialist Hospital in Lagos for an MRI scan following a brief illness. According to Adichie's sister-in-law, physician Anthea Esege Nwandu, the toddler suffered cardiac arrest while being transferred without ventilator support due to alleged failures in adhering to proper medical protocols. These allegations have sparked renewed calls for healthcare reforms in Nigeria, where many patients with means choose to seek treatment abroad due to persistent issues with medical infrastructure.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a globally acclaimed writer known for her exploration of identity and migration, has returned to Nigeria for a book tour amidst the ongoing investigation. The case underscores broader challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system, including a severe shortage of qualified medical professionals. Between 2020 and 2024, approximately 15,000 to 16,000 doctors left the country, leaving just 55,000 doctors to serve a population of over 220 million people.
This tragedy has drawn attention not only to individual cases of medical negligence but also to the systemic failures that contribute to poor patient outcomes in Nigeria. The inquest
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Originally published on Deutsche Welle on 2/26/2026