Lola Ade-John, Nigeria’s Tourism Minister, has been hospitalized in Abuja after suffering from acute poisoning, the origin of which remains unknown. The distressing incident has left her fighting for her life, and her family is frantically trying to ensure her recovery.
Ms. Ade-John, aged 60, was swiftly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi as soon as she began exhibiting symptoms of poisoning, according to sources close to the family. As of Friday morning, she has been hospitalized for four days, with her condition causing grave concern.
Sources have revealed that Ms. Ade-John, who is not only a career banker but also a tech investor, is now reliant on a breathing apparatus. However, the exact nature of the poisonous substance and how it was ingested remains a mystery.
Despite the severity of the situation, there is uncertainty about whether any investigations have been initiated, as the police and the State Security Service have not responded to inquiries regarding the matter.
This dire development has further exacerbated tensions between Ms. Ade-John’s family and the government. The Permanent Secretary of her ministry, Ngozi Onwudike, reportedly disagreed with transferring the minister to a better-equipped private medical facility downtown. Onwudike’s stance was rooted in the belief that the Federal Medical Centre is a public hospital and would not incur substantial charges to the government. However, Ms. Ade-John’s family rejected this position, citing their inability to secure funds for a private hospital transfer.
Efforts to reach the Permanent Secretary for comment on this matter have been unsuccessful as her phone number was unresponsive as of Friday morning.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Federal Medical Centre has yet to provide any comments or updates regarding Ms. Ade-John’s condition.
Lola Ade-John was appointed as a minister by President Bola Tinubu in August, marking a notable selection from outside the political arena. Having spent several years in London, she returned to serve her country at the president’s request. Her unexpected poisoning has sent shockwaves through the nation, with many anxiously awaiting further developments in this ongoing and concerning situation.
