The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Etimbuk Daniel, at the orientation camp in Awgu, Enugu State, following allegations of medical negligence and the possible administration of substandard drugs.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by a member of the House, Unyime Idem, who called for a thorough investigation into the incident and measures to prevent similar tragedies at NYSC orientation camps across the country.
Daniel, the immediate past president of the Students’ Union Government of Akwa Ibom State University, reportedly died after his health deteriorated while undergoing the compulsory three-week orientation programme.
According to allegations raised following his death, the corps member initially complained of a headache and was administered medication at the camp clinic. His condition reportedly worsened, prompting him to request further medical attention.
However, concerns were raised over an alleged delay in transferring him to a hospital for urgent treatment.
The allegations also suggested that the medication administered to him might have been fake, prompting calls for an independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
The House of Representatives has directed relevant committees to engage the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and other relevant stakeholders to examine the problem of counterfeit and substandard products.
The lawmakers are expected to consider measures to strengthen regulatory oversight and prevent the circulation of fake products capable of endangering lives.
Meanwhile, NAFDAC has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death and cautioned the public against drawing conclusions before the inquiry is completed.
In a statement issued on October 19, the agency disclosed that preliminary clinical assessments suggested that the corps member died from acute kidney injury resulting from severe dehydration and shock.
According to NAFDAC, Daniel was initially taken to the camp clinic on October 7 with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria and a history of peptic ulcer disease. He was reportedly treated, stabilized, and discharged with oral medication the following morning.
He returned to the clinic on October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh and experiencing profuse sweating and recurrent episodes of low blood pressure.
The agency said his condition deteriorated despite fluid resuscitation, while his urine output remained low. He was subsequently referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, where he reportedly fell into a coma. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
NAFDAC stressed that its preliminary findings had not established whether the medicines administered to Daniel contributed to his death.
As part of its investigation, the agency said its officials had visited the camp clinic, interviewed the medical personnel involved in his treatment and other staff members, and collected samples of the medicines for laboratory analysis.
The agency added that appropriate regulatory action would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.
The House of Representatives’ intervention follows a similar move by the Senate, which on October 15 ordered an investigation into Daniel’s death and the state of medical facilities and emergency response services at NYSC orientation camps nationwide.
The Senate also directed relevant committees to work with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The investigations have renewed concerns about the adequacy of medical facilities, the availability of qualified healthcare personnel, the quality of medicines, and emergency referral procedures at NYSC orientation camps.
The outcome of the investigations is expected to determine whether any lapses occurred in Daniel’s treatment and identify measures needed to strengthen healthcare services for corps members across the country.