Nigeria records an estimated 43,000 snakebite cases every year, as health experts warn that shortages and high costs of antivenom continue to threaten lives across the country.
Medical specialists and researchers on Neglected Tropical Diseases have called on the Federal Government to prioritise antivenom production, distribution and affordability in public hospitals nationwide.
They said inadequate access to the life-saving treatment has contributed to preventable deaths, particularly in rural communities where snakebites are most common.
Experts disclosed that snakebite victims currently pay between N180,000 and N250,000 per dose of antivenom, a cost far beyond the reach of most Nigerians earning the N70,000 minimum wage.
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According to the Toxinological Society of Nigeria, the country records about 1,900 deaths annually from snakebite envenoming, describing the situation as a neglected public health emergency.
In a communiqué issued after its second Annual General Meeting on Snakebite Management and Research Interventions at Gombe State University, the society highlighted persistent shortages of antivenom in health facilities.
The crisis gained renewed attention following the reported death of Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, who allegedly died after sustaining a snakebite last weekend.
Nwangene rose to national prominence after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and was known for blending jazz, opera and soul music.
Reacting to the incident, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria urged the Federal Government to make antivenom freely available and invest in local manufacturing.
A global report by the Strike Out Snakebite initiative revealed that at least 50 per cent of health facilities in Nigeria lack the capacity to manage snakebite cases.
The report further noted that 99 per cent of healthcare workers surveyed experienced difficulties administering antivenom, the only treatment recognised by the World Health Organisation for snakebite care.
It stated, “Nigeria is home to 29 snake species, nearly 41 per cent of which are venomous, yet access to timely and effective treatment remains limited.”
In Benue State, 12 internally displaced persons reportedly relied on traditional medicine for snakebite treatment in 2025 due to limited medical access in displacement camps.
The Medical Director of the Snakebite Hospital and Research Centre, Kaltungo, Dr Nicholas Amani, described antivenom as a globally scarce commodity.
“The truth is that anti-snake venom is scarce worldwide because snakebite victims are largely poor rural farmers with little social or political voice,” Amani said.
He added that even specialised hospitals currently face shortages, saying, “We do not actually have anti-snake venom in our facilities at the moment.”
Following public concern, the Senate called for mandatory antivenom stocking in hospitals and urged state governments to establish coordinated emergency referral systems.
Lawmakers said the move would ensure rapid access to life-saving medicines during emergencies such as snakebites, poisoning and scorpion stings.
A Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Jos, Patricia Lar, said Nigeria has the scientific expertise to produce antivenom but lacks sustained commitment.
“We have the science and knowledgeable professionals, but there is no concerted effort to produce antivenom locally,” Lar said.
She explained that dependence on imports from India, China and the United Kingdom has driven up costs and reduced availability at primary healthcare centres.
Also speaking, Professor of Public Health Parasitology, Chinyere Ukaga, said antivenom scarcity reflects the classification of snakebite as a Neglected Tropical Disease.
“Antivenom has not been properly placed on the priority list by policymakers, which explains its absence in many hospitals,” Ukaga said.
Health experts have continued to call for antivenom to be subsidised or made free, alongside improved awareness and preparedness at the primary healthcare level nationwide.
