The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi-Abuja, has announced that eight members of its medical staff, comprising four doctors, two nurses, and two hospital attendants, are currently under investigation for alleged negligence in handling accident victims at the facility’s Emergency Unit.
This development follows public outrage sparked by a viral video that surfaced over the weekend, in which a good Samaritan who transported accident victims to the hospital accused FMC staff of refusing to promptly attend to the injured. According to the man who filmed the footage, the hospital personnel declined to provide immediate assistance, with one staff member allegedly citing a lack of gloves and other essential equipment.
In response to the widespread criticism, the Head of Clinical Services at FMC Abuja, Dr. Bioku Muftau, confirmed during a press briefing on Monday that the affected staff were already being investigated to determine their level of culpability in the matter.
“All the staff who are there on that particular day are going to be investigated. They are up to eight—nurses, attendants, doctors, all of them will be investigated; for now, they are four doctors, two nurses, two health assistants,” Muftau disclosed.
The viral incident caught the attention of the Federal Government, prompting the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, to order a comprehensive inquiry. Muftau assured that the findings would be made public once the panel concludes its work. “The findings of the investigation ordered by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, would be made public upon conclusion,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised in the viral video that the hospital lacked necessary medical supplies at the time of the incident, Muftau refuted the claims, asserting that the hospital was adequately stocked and prepared to manage emergencies. “In terms of being overwhelmed, this hospital is blessed with a lot of staff. As I speak with you, we have over 100 consultants in various specialties. In neurosurgery alone, the sole specialty of surgery, we have three,” he noted.
The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Obadiah Gana, in a separate statement issued on behalf of the Medical Director, confirmed that preliminary investigations had been conducted and insisted that the emergency department was fully equipped with required medical consumables, including latex gloves. The statement stressed that the hospital took seriously the public’s concern and that a full probe, as directed by the Minister of State for Health, was underway.
Muftau also provided an update on the condition of one of the accident victim shown in the video. He explained that the patient had received adequate medical attention and had been discharged on the same day. “The patient with head injury in the video that attracted public outrage has been treated, stabilized, and discharged on the same day he was brought into the facility,” he said.
He further revealed that the hospital has put in place a dedicated phone line for inquiries and complaints related to its emergency services to ensure better communication and accountability. “For a hospital that wants to become world-class, we must be open to improvement. Although the hospital is maintaining high standards, there is room for improvement,” Muftau added.
Responding to the allegation that the hospital was overwhelmed at the time of the incident, Muftau pointed to FMC Abuja’s response to a recent petrol tanker explosion in Niger State as evidence of its capacity to handle emergencies. “During the last petrol tanker explosion that occurred in Niger State, the FMC Abuja swung into action and went there with ambulance vehicles to rescue the victims,” he recounted.
On future plans, Muftau noted that the hospital is expanding its emergency unit to provide additional bed spaces and intends to recruit more health personnel to meet the increasing demand for healthcare services. This move, according to him, is part of the centre’s commitment to improving service delivery and patient care.
