One Death Too Many -By Ike Willie-Nwobu

Sometime last week, Nigerians were assaulted by news of the tragic death of rising singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who was bitten to death by a snake in her home in Lugbe, Abuja.

According to reports, after the snake bit her, she sought medical attention, which saw her end up at the Federal Medical Center Jabi. While initial reports said she died because the hospital lacked antivenom to treat the snakebite, the management of the hospital has since clarified that the singer was duly treated but only gave up the ghost due to the neurotoxic nature of the venom.

Whatever the case, it is another tragic loss of life in a country where it is much easier to die than to live. Every day in Nigeria brings with it fresh and often fatal challenges for a country that seems to be permanently on edge.

Many Nigerians die from deaths that have nothing to do with natural causes. Terrorist attacks, domestic violence, road crashes, snakebites, poor health care, fire outbreaks, and many other grim factors make up the catalogue of causes that cut short Nigerian lives.

As news of Ifunanya’s death spread, many Nigerians were shocked that there was even a hint of the fact that antivenom was not readily available. But those Nigerians who were shocked were probably those who have been unfamiliar with reality in Nigeria.

According to reports, die in Nigeria is pricier than to live but infinitely easier. A snakebite, an unfortunate encounter with bandits or one-chance operators, or even routine infections can quickly spell death, leaving families mired in mind-numbing grief.

Why has life become so cheap in Nigeria? The answer to this question is ominously easy. The country does not attach much value to the lives of its citizens. In the face of a population explosion, grinding poverty, and spectacular government incompetence, life, that most precious and hardiest of gifts, is often lost.

Under a deluge of expensive excuses, death regularly comes out on top. Nigeria is a country where death is easy. Many Nigerians have lost loved ones in wholly avoidable circumstances, and nothing was done. Many continue to lose their loved ones while many brace themselves for inevitable losses.
Life expectancy continues to skid in the country at alarming levels. For many Nigerians, death is a hair’s breadth away despite their best efforts to stay alive.

Nigerians need to speak with one voice on this. For many Nigerians, once another avoidable death is confirmed, their internalized helplessness kicks in and they simply shrug and say the person’s time has come.

It doesn’t alwayss have to end like that. Life could and should mean more in a country where death stalks even those who feel most secure.

As for those whose go-to reaction when someone dies out of entirely preventable circumstances in a country where life has become cheaper than salt is to nauseatingly say that their time has come, they could do with a broader and better version of what life is all about.

Ike Willie-Nwobu,
Ikewilly9@gmail.com