The death of Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has triggered public outrage following allegations that several hospitals in Ibadan, Oyo State, failed to provide emergency treatment after he collapsed.
The controversy has renewed concerns about access to emergency medical care in Nigeria, with members of the public demanding clarification on the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
Bolaji’s personal assistant, Babadunni Olayemi, alleged that efforts to save the gospel minister were unsuccessful after he was taken to several hospitals in Ibadan in search of urgent medical attention.
According to him, the singer was taken to between seven and eight hospitals, but the attempts to secure treatment were unsuccessful.
“They took him to different hospitals. Some said the doctors were on strike, while others said he was rejected at the hospitals. We all tried, praying for him and taking him around to hospitals. We took him to about seven or eight different hospitals here in Ibadan, but God said it was his time,” he said.
The allegations have generated debate over the availability of emergency services and the responsibilities of hospitals when patients arrive in critical condition.
Some Nigerians have linked the reported difficulties to an industrial action by resident doctors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, while others have criticised the state of the country’s healthcare system.
However, UCH has said its services had resumed following the suspension of the resident doctors’ strike.
The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Enitan, said the industrial action was limited to the institution and was not a nationwide strike.
“The hospital is running its services. The strike was a local one within the hospital; it was not a national strike,” Enitan said.
She also stated that the hospital’s management had no official record indicating that Toluwanisings was brought to the facility for treatment.
“I was not aware that he was brought to UCH. I was not officially informed that he was brought to UCH. There was no record of it with the management,” she added.
The singer’s personal assistant’s account has not independently established which hospitals were approached or the specific circumstances surrounding each alleged refusal of treatment.
Toluwanisings’ death was announced by his family on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. In a statement shared on his TikTok account, the family said he died in the early hours of that day and appealed for prayers for his wife and loved ones.
The family said funeral arrangements would be announced later.
