Tinubu unveils 151 emergency ambulances

launches massive healthcare rescue drive across Nigeria

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday launched a sweeping national emergency healthcare intervention with the rollout of 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and advanced emergency dispatch equipment aimed at saving lives in rural and hard-to-reach communities across Nigeria.

The landmark intervention, unveiled under the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System ,NEMSAS,is part of the Federal Government’s renewed push to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery and drastically reduce preventable deaths among mothers, newborns and vulnerable Nigerians.

Speaking during the virtual presidential launch of projects by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a bold healthcare revolution under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the deployment of the ambulances and emergency response assets signals a new era where “no Nigerian should lose their life because structured medical help could not reach them in time.”

“This landmark occasion features the official launch of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System assets including 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances, emergency communication and dispatch equipment to strengthen pre-hospital care across the nation,” Salako said.

He explained that the emergency assets would improve rapid response services in urban centres, riverine settlements and remote communities where access to healthcare remains difficult.

Beyond the ambulance rollout, the Federal Government also commissioned major healthcare infrastructure projects nationwide, including Emergency Operations Centres in Kano, Sokoto and Katsina states, the Lagos Vaccine Hub, and several tertiary hospital projects.

Among the flagship projects inaugurated were the Trauma Centre at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; the Mental Health Complex at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital; the Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre in Bauchi; the 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 sector projects had been lined up to commemorate the Tinubu administration’s third anniversary, describing them as strategic investments in trauma care, maternal health, emergency preparedness, diagnostics and mental healthcare.

Highlighting achievements recorded in the health sector over the last three years, the minister said health insurance coverage had expanded by more than 33 per cent, over 4,000 primary healthcare centres had been revitalised, while 15 new federal tertiary health institutions had been established nationwide.

He further revealed that more than 500 specialist healthcare infrastructure projects, including cancer treatment and diagnostic centres, had been developed to curb medical tourism.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachallom, said the ambulances would be stationed at primary healthcare centres in rural communities, where trained personnel would manage emergency response operations.

“These ambulances are going down to the rural areas, and they will be stationed at the primary healthcare centres where there are trained drivers, while nurses will accompany the ambulances anytime they need to be moved,” she said.

Kachallom added that emergency contact numbers would also be provided at primary healthcare centres to enhance rapid referrals and emergency coordination.

National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, Demuren Doubra, said the tricycle ambulances were specifically designed to transport pregnant women and newborns during emergencies in hard-to-access areas.

He disclosed that over 58,000 women and more than 2,000 newborns had already benefited from emergency transportation interventions under the programme.

Doubra recounted how a pregnant woman was transported over 180 kilometres from Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State and later safely delivered triplets.

“This is a woman that would have died because of a gap in transportation,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria loses about 75,000 women annually to maternal-related complications and nearly 280,000 newborns due largely to delays in accessing healthcare.

“As NEMSAS, with these facilities and equipment, we are trying to address the delay in reaching care for women and newborns,” he added.

Director of Community Health Services at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nana Abubakar, said the initiative would strengthen emergency referral systems and improve access to lifesaving healthcare services.

“It will help reduce preventable deaths, especially amongst mothers, newborn children and other vulnerable groups,” she said.

Also speaking, National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Nnena Ogbulafor, revealed that malaria prevalence in Nigeria had declined from 21 per cent in 2021 to 15 per cent in 2025.

“Between three years of Mr President’s agenda, especially as regards the health sector, we’ve been able to reduce the burden of malaria significantly,” she said.

World Bank Task Team Leader, Onoride Ezire, described the ambulance rollout as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward universal health coverage.

“They are not just vehicles, they are not just ambulances; they are life-saving machines,” Ezire declared, urging beneficiary states to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability of the emergency assets.

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