Abeokuta, Ogun State — The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS), National Body, has dismissed widespread claims that Ogun State lacks functional ambulance and emergency medical services, describing such narratives as misleading and potentially dangerous to public safety.
The clarification followed a fact-finding and stakeholder engagement meeting between the NAOSS National Executive Council, led by its National President, Aàrẹ Oluwafemi Ajayi (FM Castro), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSEMSAS).
According to NAOSS, the engagement was prompted by the growing spread of misinformation suggesting that Ogun State does not operate an effective emergency medical response system, a narrative the association says discourages residents from seeking timely medical assistance.
Findings from the engagement revealed that Ogun State currently operates a structured and expanding emergency medical response system with multiple ambulance categories designed to reach diverse communities. These include boat ambulances for riverine and waterside areas, tricycle ambulances for hard-to-reach inner communities and maternity emergencies, and bus ambulances for major road and inter-city emergencies.
NAOSS confirmed that every Local Government Area in the state has at least one functional ambulance stationed at the Local Government headquarters and operating on a 24-hour basis. This represents a significant improvement from over six years ago, when only six ambulances served four local governments with limited operational hours.
The state’s emergency response framework operates under RESMAT, a strategic initiative aligned with the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS). To strengthen service delivery, the Ogun State Government recently recruited 50 additional nurses dedicated to ambulance and emergency care services. Both public and accredited private hospitals participate in the referral network, with the state government covering emergency treatment costs where patients are referred to private facilities.
A fully integrated emergency call centre coordinates emergency responses across the state, tracking ambulance locations and hospital referrals in real time. NAOSS disclosed that in 2025, the call centre recorded a 100 percent success rate in managing reported emergencies. Residents can access emergency services through the toll-free line 08112000033 or by dialing the national emergency number 112.
Emergency victims who access care through official emergency lines are entitled to free medical treatment within the first 48 hours. This policy applies across a wide referral network that includes primary and general health facilities, specialist and tertiary hospitals, the Federal Medical Centre, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Redeemer’s Hospital, and other accredited private hospitals.
NAOSS identified low public awareness as a major challenge, warning that statements such as “there is no ambulance in Ogun State” discourage residents from calling for help and may lead to avoidable loss of lives. The association urged students, youths, and residents to save and use the emergency numbers whenever the need arises.
The association commended the Honourable Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary, and the Ogun State Government for sustained investment in emergency healthcare delivery, noting that Ogun State remains one of the proactive states in the South-West implementing SEMSAS and NEMSAS frameworks.
NAOSS National reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with government agencies and stakeholders to promote public education, counter misinformation, and encourage responsible use of emergency services.
Emergency Line: 08112000033
National Emergency Line: 112
Bright Sobowale
Nijatravels News.