Tinubu distributes 79 domestically-manufactured emergency vehicles to universities and major medical centers across the country

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled a significant boost to Nigeria's emergency healthcare system, introducing 79 locally-assembled advanced ambulances that will be distributed to tertiary hospitals across the country, aiming to enhance emergency response and reduce avoidable deaths.

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The ambulances were commissioned in Lagos by Professor Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, the Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, who represented the President at the ceremony, and will be allocated to federal tertiary health institutions under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System.

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This initiative is part of the activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration, which seeks to improve emergency response capacity nationwide, and is a key component of the President's Renewed Hope Agenda.

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According to Professor Adeyemo, the deployment of these ambulances demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment to building a more responsive and integrated emergency healthcare system, which will significantly enhance the speed and quality of emergency medical response, particularly in critical cases.

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The ambulances will facilitate the swift transportation of patients from various locations to hospitals, enabling them to receive timely medical attention, and thereby reducing avoidable deaths and complications arising from delayed access to care, Adeyemo explained.

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These Advanced Life Support units are equipped with modern medical and communication systems, capable of alerting hospitals ahead of patients' arrival, allowing for faster treatment preparation, and were entirely assembled in Nigeria, including the installation of emergency medical equipment.

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Professor Adeyemo noted that the local assembly of these ambulances showcases Nigeria's growing capacity in local manufacturing and healthcare technology, and will stimulate local manufacturing, create employment opportunities, and strengthen confidence in indigenous capacity.

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The ambulances operate on dual-fuel systems, using both Premium Motor Spirit and Compressed Natural Gas, aligning with the administration's broader energy diversification and sustainability policies, Adeyemo disclosed.

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This project aligns with the ongoing health sector reforms championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, particularly efforts aimed at strengthening emergency care systems and expanding access to quality healthcare.

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Improving emergency transportation is as critical as upgrading hospital infrastructure in reducing mortality rates nationwide, according to Adeyemo, who emphasized that efficient emergency transportation is essential to saving lives.

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The LUTH CMD urged state governments, local councils, and private institutions to leverage Nigeria's growing local production capacity to address future emergency medical transportation needs, promoting a collaborative approach to healthcare development.

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The Federal Government stated that the nationwide distribution of the ambulances will strengthen referral systems, improve access to lifesaving care, and deepen ongoing reforms targeted at reducing morbidity and mortality across the country.