The Ogun State Government has called on residents to keep its dedicated emergency ambulance line, 08112000033, handy for prompt medical assistance in the event of road accidents and other emergencies, stressing that the service comes at no cost.
It also announced that victims transported through the state’s ambulance service would receive free medical treatment for the first 48 hours at designated government-owned health facilities.
The government made the announcement in a public sensitisation message published on its social media platforms on Saturday, encouraging residents to save the emergency number and circulate it among relatives and friends.
On why residents should contact the state’s dedicated hotline rather than depend exclusively on the national emergency number, 112, the government explained that calls to the national line could undergo an assessment process before being redirected to the relevant state emergency response agency.
It noted that the process could sometimes cause delays, particularly when accurate location information was required.
“Until Nigeria fully implements an advanced, location-based emergency call-routing system, contacting Ogun State’s ambulance service directly can help reduce communication delays and connect callers with local responders more quickly,” the message stated.
The government emphasised the importance of reaching emergency responders promptly, saying, “In an emergency, every second counts.”
It further urged residents to save the number, 08112000033, and circulate it among their relatives and acquaintances, adding that “timely intervention can make the difference between life and death.”
The announcement comes a day after a road accident at Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, raised concerns about emergency response in the state.
Nollywood actor Kunle Afod had, in a video shared on Instagram, appealed to the government and emergency agencies for assistance, claiming that he had spent about 20 minutes at the accident scene without seeing an ambulance.
However, the state government disputed his account, saying an ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps personnel arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the accident was reported.
