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The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, has firmly denied allegations that its personnel abandoned accident victims, as portrayed in a viral video circulating on social media.
The hospital confirmed that all the individuals shown in the footage were treated promptly and have since been discharged in stable condition.
Addressing the media at the hospital premises in Abuja, Dr. Bioku Muftau, Head of Clinical Services at FMC, expressed the institution’s deep regret over the video’s negative portrayal of the hospital’s operations.
He emphasized that the facility maintains a strict policy of zero tolerance for negligence and reiterated FMC’s long-standing reputation for upholding high standards of patient care.
According to Dr. Muftau, “The patient with the head injury shown in the video was attended to and stabilized on the same day. He was treated and discharged in good health.” He assured the public that the hospital had not failed in its duty of care to any of the accident victims.
In response to the social media backlash, the hospital has launched a formal investigation into the incident. An internal investigative committee has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged negligence on June 6, 2025—the day the incident occurred.
Dr. Muftau confirmed that eight personnel involved in emergency care that day, including two doctors, two nurses, and two attendants, are currently under investigation. “All staff present in the emergency unit on that date will be thoroughly investigated. We take patient complaints and concerns very seriously,” he stated.
The hospital has pledged full transparency in the investigative process. The inquiry was initiated following a directive from the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, who ordered a comprehensive probe into the matter. Dr. Muftau assured that the findings would be made public once the investigation is concluded, and any staff found guilty of dereliction of duty would face appropriate disciplinary action.
Highlighting the hospital’s commitment to professional development, Dr. Muftau revealed that FMC regularly conducts organizational culture and operational training for staff. “In the coming weeks, our newly recruited personnel will undergo extensive training to reinforce our core values and emergency care protocols,” he added.
He also emphasized that the hospital adheres strictly to the federal directive prohibiting the rejection of patients in emergencies. “Our policy aligns with the Federal Ministry of Health’s directive that no public hospital in Nigeria should turn away emergency patients. We have maintained this standard without compromise,” he said.
Dr. Muftau explained that even in situations of overcrowding, the emergency unit makes necessary adaptations to accommodate all patients. “We decongest the emergency ward regularly and create space when necessary. In the case of mass casualties, our protocols ensure swift and effective response,” he explained.
He further disclosed that FMC Abuja has recently been enrolled in the National Emergency Medical and Ambulance System (NEMAS), enhancing its capacity to respond to emergencies.
Even before joining the NEMAS program, he noted, the hospital routinely treated indigent and unidentified patients brought in unconscious or without any known family or identity.
Calling for public patience, Dr. Muftau urged Nigerians to allow the investigative process to run its course, promising that justice and accountability would be served.