The Federal Government has called for tighter security in hospitals across the country following the stabbing of a medical laboratory scientist at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The government also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the alleged assailant in the attack on Mr Lawal Toheeb Olasunkanmi, describing the incident as unacceptable.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, condemned the attack, insisting that dissatisfaction with medical care could not justify violence against health workers.
“No grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with care can justify violence against a health worker performing his lawful duties,” Salako said.
In a statement issued on Monday, the minister called on the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the swift arrest of the suspect, adding that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would follow the case to ensure justice was served.
He described the incident as a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen security arrangements in federal tertiary health institutions.
Salako said the ministry had issued directives on August 5, 2026, to improve the protection of health workers, stressing that the measures must be effectively implemented across healthcare facilities.
The measures, according to him, include improved security arrangements, violence prevention teams, incident reporting mechanisms, collaboration with law-enforcement agencies and better complaint handling procedures.
He emphasised that the measures should go beyond policy directives to guarantee the safety of healthcare personnel.
“These safeguards must translate into effective protection for health personnel across health facilities,” the minister said.
Salako also appealed to health workers who had embarked on industrial action at FMC Abeokuta to return to work immediately in the interest of patients and the general public.
He urged the workers to allow security agencies to carry out their investigation, while calling on the hospital management to ensure that the affected staff member received appropriate medical care and support.
The minister further urged the management to strengthen security arrangements in line with the Federal Government’s directives.
Salako also extended the government’s condolences to the family of the deceased patient, acknowledging the pain associated with losing a loved one.
“The loss of a loved one deserves compassion and appropriate attention,” he said.
He urged patients and their relatives who were dissatisfied with medical services to use the hospital’s formal complaints mechanism to seek redress rather than resorting to violence.
According to him, complaints should be examined fairly and addressed on their merits through established procedures.
The ministry reiterated that protecting health workers was essential to ensuring safe and uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
“Health facilities must remain safe environments where personnel can discharge their duties without fear of violence, and where patients and their families can seek care with confidence,” the statement added.