The Federal Government has launched an investigation into a viral video showing what appeared to be neglect of road accident victims at the Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja.
The footage, widely circulated on social media, was recorded by a good Samaritan who claimed he rescued the injured victims from a road crash and brought them to the hospital for urgent medical attention. He alleged that the hospital staff failed to respond promptly, with one reportedly saying, “We don’t have gloves.”
The video, however, also showed that minutes later, some medical personnel were seen assisting one of the critically injured victims into the emergency ward. Other victims were captured in visible pain, walking themselves into the hospital with little assistance.
Amid mounting public concern, the hospital management has confirmed that a full-scale investigation is underway. In a statement issued on Sunday, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Obadiah Gana, said FMC Jabi has launched an internal review of the incident.
“The Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, has directed a full investigation of the incident which is ongoing. The findings of the investigation will be made available to the public,” the statement said.
Gana also noted that preliminary findings have so far shown no shortage of critical supplies at the hospital.
“Our emergency department had a full stock of gloves, resuscitation equipment, medications, trolleys, and wheelchairs at the time. We are currently engaging with all staff who were on duty that day as well as other stakeholders to gather a full account of the events,” he said.
The hospital expressed regret over the public outrage sparked by the video, assuring Nigerians of its dedication to transparency and patient care.
“We apologise for any distress or discomfort caused and want to assure you that we take feedback seriously. We value the trust placed in us and are committed to providing quality care with empathy and compassion,” the statement noted.
The management also highlighted the centre’s role as a tertiary referral hospital with the capacity to conduct advanced procedures, including open-heart surgery, kidney transplants, laser surgery, and spinal interventions—services not readily available in many public facilities.
Gana said the hospital maintains an “open-door policy” and has created several feedback channels to ensure accountability.
“We have multiple patient feedback channels available, including several phone numbers displayed throughout the hospital, QR codes, and email contacts,” he said. “We also operate a medical indigent fund to support underprivileged patients with their bills and have treated many unconscious patients successfully through our social workers’ intervention.”
The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, serves as one of the key emergency healthcare providers in the Federal Capital Territory.
The ongoing probe is expected to clarify the events that led to the alleged delay in attending to the victims, with the findings to be made public once the review is concluded.
