President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a nationwide emergency healthcare intervention with the deployment of 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and emergency dispatch equipment aimed at improving access to urgent medical care across Nigeria.
The initiative, unveiled under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), is part of the Federal Government’s renewed effort to reduce preventable deaths, especially among pregnant women, newborns and residents of rural communities.
Speaking during the virtual launch organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, described the programme as a major healthcare intervention under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the emergency assets would strengthen rapid medical response in urban centres, riverine communities and remote areas where access to healthcare remains difficult.
“This landmark intervention includes 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and emergency communication and dispatch equipment to improve pre-hospital care nationwide,” Salako said.
The Federal Government also commissioned several health infrastructure projects across the country, including Emergency Operations Centres in Kano, Sokoto and Katsina states, the Lagos Vaccine Hub, a Trauma Centre at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, and a Mental Health Complex at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Other projects inaugurated include the Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre in Bauchi, a Laboratory Complex at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Complex at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
Salako disclosed that over 100 health projects were lined up to mark the administration’s third anniversary, adding that the government had also revitalised more than 4,000 primary healthcare centres and established 15 new federal tertiary health institutions nationwide.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachallom, said the ambulances would be stationed at primary healthcare centres in rural communities and operated by trained personnel.
National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Demuren Doubra, said the tricycle ambulances were designed to transport pregnant women and newborns in hard-to-reach areas.
He revealed that more than 58,000 women and over 2,000 newborns had already benefited from emergency transportation interventions under the programme.
According to him, Nigeria records about 75,000 maternal deaths and nearly 280,000 newborn deaths annually, mostly due to delays in accessing healthcare.
Also speaking, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Nnena Ogbulafor, said malaria prevalence in Nigeria had dropped from 21 per cent in 2021 to 15 per cent in 2025.
World Bank Task Team Leader, Onoride Ezire, described the ambulances as “life-saving machines” and urged states to ensure proper maintenance of the emergency assets.