The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched an investigation into the death of Etimbuk Daniel, a corps member who died after receiving treatment at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Awgu, Enugu State.
The agency has collected samples of medications administered to Daniel for laboratory analysis following allegations that substandard or falsified drugs may have contributed to his death.
Daniel, the immediate past president of the Students’ Union Government of Akwa Ibom State University, reportedly died on Saturday, October 10, 2026, after his health deteriorated during his NYSC orientation programme.
His death has prompted the Senate to order an investigation into the incident and the quality of medical services available at NYSC orientation camps nationwide.
In a statement on Sunday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said agency officials had visited the camp clinic, interviewed medical personnel and other workers, and collected samples of the drugs administered to the deceased.
The agency, however, cautioned against concluding that fake or substandard medicines caused Daniel’s death before the investigation was completed.
According to NAFDAC, Daniel was taken to the camp clinic by two fellow corps members at about 9pm on Wednesday, October 7, with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria. He was also reportedly a known patient with peptic ulcer disease.
The agency said he received an intramuscular antimalarial drug and other supportive medications administered intravenously before being placed on bed rest for observation.
He was discharged the following morning with oral medications, according to the statement.
However, Daniel returned to the clinic on Saturday, October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh.
The attending doctor reportedly became concerned after noticing that he was sweating profusely. A blood pressure check showed a reading of 80/40mmHg, prompting the medical team to administer intravenous normal saline.
NAFDAC said repeated monitoring showed that Daniel’s blood pressure continued to drop despite treatment, while his urine output remained poor.
The camp medical team subsequently referred him to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.
However, the agency said Daniel slipped into a coma around the time he arrived at the hospital, and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
In a further revelation, NAFDAC said the camp doctor was later informed by one of Daniel’s friends that the corps member had reportedly been vomiting for two days after his initial admission.
The doctor was said to have been unaware of the development before the information was disclosed.
The agency said the doctors suspected that Daniel died from acute kidney injury resulting from severe dehydration and shock.
Defending the medications administered at the camp, NAFDAC said several other patients had received the same drugs and recovered. It added that the clinic’s doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers had also prescribed or used the medications themselves at different times.
However, the agency did not announce any laboratory findings establishing whether the drugs were substandard or linked to Daniel’s death, noting that its investigation was ongoing.
SENATE ORDERS INVESTIGATION
The case has sparked concern among students, with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death.
NANS president, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, raised concerns about the treatment Daniel received at the camp clinic and the timing of his referral for further medical attention.
The allegations have yet to be conclusively established.
On Thursday, October 15, the Senate ordered a comprehensive investigation following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East.
The lawmakers directed relevant Senate committees to work with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to investigate the circumstances surrounding Daniel’s death and examine medical services at NYSC orientation camps nationwide.
The investigation is expected to examine the availability of qualified medical personnel, essential medicines, emergency equipment and effective referral procedures for corps members who require urgent treatment.
Daniel’s death has sent shock waves through the Akwa Ibom student community, where he was known for his leadership as the university’s immediate past SUG president.
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