Nigerian Senator Dies After Hospital Refused Surgery Over Unpaid Bill Former Senator Ibrahim Musa Kontagora has died in Abuja following a medical emergency after Nizamiye Hospital declined to perform a critical surgery due to non-payment of the full treatment cost, his family confirmed on Thursday. Kontagora, who represented Niger North Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, was admitted to the private medical facility where doctors reportedly estimated a total bill of $30,000 for his treatment.
However, the former lawmaker’s family was only able to deposit $15,000 at the time. Despite the urgency of the situation, hospital management allegedly insisted on full payment before proceeding with the life-saving procedure. “Hospital officials said they would treat him as soon as the remaining balance came in,” a family member told Peoples Gazette. “We tried to raise the rest, but it came too late.” Kontagora passed away before the remaining funds could be provided. Advertisements The hospital, in response to inquiries, stated that its policy requires full payment upfront for surgical procedures but did not comment on the specific case or accept responsibility for the outcome. The tragic incident has sparked outrage on social media and renewed concerns over Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly the challenges faced by patients during emergencies at private facilities. As at the time of filing this report, no official statement has been released by the federal government or the Nigerian Medical Association regarding the incident. Advertisements Kontagora is survived by his wife, children, and extended family. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
