The Ogun State Government has stated that emergency responders, including a state ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials, reached the scene of the recent crash at Saapade on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway 10 minutes after receiving the report.
The explanation contradicts Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s allegation that no emergency assistance arrived for about 20 minutes.
The government said the accident was reported by a passerby at the FRSC station in Ogere, where a state-owned ambulance was stationed, at 12:18pm. It added that the ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the crash site at 12:28pm.
It further explained that the emergency team had to navigate the road and make a turn onto the opposite carriageway before reaching the accident scene at Saapade.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government said that “the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded promptly and helped save lives”.
The government disclosed that “six ambulance points are located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the axis concerning the incident”.
The government further stated that the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also joined the emergency response operation.
It explained that “the victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those who sustained more serious injuries were conveyed by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu”.
The government commiserated with the families of those affected by the accident, expressing sympathy over the incident and wishing the injured victims a speedy recovery.
It, however, accused Afod of politicising the incident and attempting to portray the Abiodun administration negatively through his video of the accident scene.
The government alleged that Afod was a known supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, citing videos of the actor campaigning for the opposition politician.
It said that while Afod was entitled to support any political candidate of his choice, he should not allow partisan considerations to influence his comments on an incident involving injured victims and their families.
The statement noted that Afod had produced a campaign video for Adebutu only days before the accident, adding that his latest video was an attempt to generate negative publicity for the Abiodun administration.
“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to peddle falsehood out of spite, making a mockery of the respected industry he represents.
“Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded swiftly to the accident in question,” the statement said.
Akinmade maintained that playing politics with victims of road accidents was condemnable, adding that the Abiodun administration would not be distracted by what he described as politically motivated attempts to discredit its emergency response system.
The government also urged motorists to exercise caution and strictly observe traffic rules and road safety regulations while using the highways.
It specifically advised drivers to avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other practices that endanger the lives of road users. Motorists were also urged to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with relevant guidelines issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The government maintained that road safety was a shared responsibility and called on all road users to prioritise the protection of human lives.
Akinmade reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives on the state’s highways and urged residents to report emergencies through the dedicated state emergency line, 08112000033.
The statement also clarified that the state was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, as the Nigerian Communications Commission had yet to make the service functional in the state despite efforts to activate it.