Lagos Hospital Owner Allegedly Slaps Male Nurse Amid Growing Concerns Over Assaults on Nurses
By FNA News 10 August 2026 | Lagos, Nigeria
A male nurse has resigned from a Lagos hospital after alleging that he was slapped by the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) while responding to a patient who had collapsed.
Nurse Tobi, a registered nurse who worked at IFPF Hospital in Maryland, Lagos, said the alleged incident occurred on 23 July 2026, while he was on duty.
According to an incident report and professional account reviewed by Fellow Nurses Africa, Tobi was responding to a patient who had suddenly collapsed and was responsible for the patient’s immediate care.
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The report states that the patient was considered a viral infectious case. Tobi said he went to obtain gloves before physically attending to the patient, citing infection-prevention and universal safety precautions.
It was while returning to the patient that he alleges he was slapped by the hospital’s CMD.
The nurse also alleged that the incident involved verbal abuse.
Nurse resigns following alleged assault
Tobi said he did not retaliate or engage in a confrontation following the alleged incident.
He subsequently resigned from the hospital.
In his resignation letter dated 7 August 2026, Tobi described the incident as deeply distressing and said it was inconsistent with the standards of professionalism and dignity expected in a healthcare institution.
“I found this conduct deeply distressing and wholly inconsistent with the standards of professionalism, mutual respect, and dignity that should exist within any healthcare institution.”
His resignation took effect immediately.
CMD acknowledges dispute involving collapsed patient
A message sent to Tobi by the CMD after the incident confirms that there had been a dispute relating to an incident involving a collapsed patient.
The message stated:
“I’ve looked for you twice for this issue to be resolved.”
She also urged Tobi to reconsider his decision to resign, saying:
“I still feel you should’ve come to me as a mother or your boss to put things right before you make up your mind to leave.”
Incident report alleges wider concerns
The professional account submitted to Fellow Nurses Africa also alleges that the incident was not an isolated occurrence.
It alleges that the CMD had previously slapped other domestic staff and workers within the hospital.
The claims therefore require proper investigation, including obtaining statements from individuals who may have experienced or witnessed the alleged incidents.
Hospital yet to respond
As a reponsible organisation, Fellow Nurses Africa contacted the hospital and relevant parties seeking clarifications and requested an official response to the allegations. However, no response had been received at the time of this publication.
Fellow Nurses Africa remains willing to publish the hospital’s response should one be provided.
Growing concerns over violence against nurses
The allegation comes amid wider concerns about the safety, dignity and working conditions of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Nurses routinely work in high-pressure environments, including responding to medical emergencies, caring for critically ill patients and managing situations where rapid clinical decisions are required.
Physical or verbal violence against healthcare workers can have serious consequences for staff morale, professional wellbeing and the wider quality of patient care.
FNA calls for investigation
Fellow Nurses Africa is calling for a formal investigation into the allegation involving Nurse Tobi.
The investigation should establish what happened during the patient emergency, hear from potential witnesses and determine whether any professional or institutional rules were breached.
The organisation is also calling for any wider allegations of violence within the hospital to be independently examined.
Nurses deserve a workplace where they can perform their duties without fear of physical assault or intimidation.
FNA News will continue to monitor the matter and report significant developments.
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Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa.
Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
