Lola Ade-John, the Nigerian Tourism Minister, has been hospitalized in Abuja after suffering acute poisoning.
A family source indicated that Lola Ade-John was rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Jabi, when she displayed signs of poisoning. As of Friday morning, she has spent four agonizing days at the medical facility.
During her stay at the hospital, Ms. Ade-John has been reliant on a breathing machine to sustain her. The circumstances surrounding the ingestion of the toxic substance and the source remain a perplexing mystery. The authorities, including the police and the State Security Service, have not yet provided any substantial information on whether investigations into the incident have commenced.
The distressing deterioration of Lola Ade-John’s health has not only caused grave concern for her family but also escalated tensions with the government. A contentious debate has arisen, with the Permanent Secretary of her ministry at odds with her family over the choice of medical facility for her treatment.
According to Ngozi Onwudike, the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Ade-John should continue receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Center, as it is a public hospital, and the government will not be burdened with the costs associated with her treatment. However, the family vehemently disagreed with this perspective, instead desiring to transfer her to a better-equipped private hospital in the city center.
Financial constraints have proved to be a significant hurdle for the family’s decision. They were unable to gather the necessary funds required for relocating her to a private hospital, which left them with no choice but to remain at the Federal Medical Centre. Reaching out to the Permanent Secretary for comment on this matter proved futile, as her phone number did not connect on Friday morning.
The ordeal faced by Minister Lola Ade-John is tragic. As the investigation into her poisoning unfolds and the debate over her treatment continues, her family and the nation anxiously await news of her recovery.