Monday October 19, 2026
By SituationREPORT
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has begun investigating the death of a National Youth Service Corps member, Etimbuk Daniel, at the Awgu Orientation Camp in Enugu State, collecting samples of medications administered to him for laboratory analysis.
The agency disclosed on Sunday that its officers had visited the camp clinic, interviewed the medical personnel and other workers, and collected samples of the medications for further investigation amid reports alleging that the corps member died from the effects of substandard and falsified medicines.
In a statement issued by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC said it wished to “debunk the news making the rounds that the deceased corps member previously at NYSC Orientation Camp, Awgu, Enugu State, died of effects of substandard and falsified medicines.”
According to the agency, preliminary investigations showed that Daniel was taken to the camp clinic by two fellow corps members at about 9pm on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, with symptoms suggestive of severe malaria.
The statement added that Daniel was also reportedly a known patient with peptic ulcer disease.
NAFDAC stated that he was stabilised with an intramuscular antimalarial drug and other supportive medications administered intravenously before being placed on bed rest for observation.
“He was placed on bed rest for observation till Thursday morning when he was discharged with oral medications,” the statement read.
The agency said Daniel returned to the clinic unaided on Saturday, October 10, complaining of pain in his right thigh and was advised to see a physiotherapist.
However, his profuse sweating reportedly caught the attention of the attending doctor, who checked his blood pressure and found it to be low at 80/40mmHg.
“He was stabilised with intravenous Normal Saline. Serial monitoring showed recurrent episodes of hypotension,” NAFDAC stated.
The agency explained that his recurring low blood pressure and poor urine output, despite fluid resuscitation, prompted his referral to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, in an ambulance accompanied by another doctor.
“He went into coma at about the time of arriving at UNTH. All efforts at resuscitating him failed,” the statement added.
NAFDAC further disclosed that the camp clinic doctor was later informed by Daniel’s friend that the corps member had been vomiting for two days after his initial admission, a development the doctor was reportedly unaware of.
The agency said the doctors believed the cause of death was “acute kidney injury secondary to severe dehydration and shock.”
Defending the medications administered to Daniel, NAFDAC noted that the same drugs had been given to several other patients at the camp, who recovered after receiving treatment.
“It is instructive to note that the same medications given to the deceased were also administered to several other patients in the camp who got well after receiving their treatments,” the statement read.
The agency added that the medical doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare workers at the camp clinic had also prescribed and used the medications themselves at different times.
On its investigation, NAFDAC said its officers had visited the clinic, interviewed medical personnel and other staff, and collected samples of the medications for laboratory analysis and other necessary action.
