KEY POINTS

• President Tinubu rolled out 79 locally assembled advanced ambulances for tertiary hospitals under NEMSAS.
• The Advanced Life Support units carry modern equipment that alerts hospitals before patients arrive.
• Nigerian workers assembled the vehicles at home, and they run on dual fuel of petrol and CNG.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday rolled out 79 locally assembled advanced ambulances for tertiary hospitals across Nigeria, a move that aims to strengthen emergency care and cut avoidable deaths. The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Professor Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, commissioned the vehicles in Lagos on the president’s behalf, and the government will distribute them to federal hospitals under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System.

Faster response, fewer avoidable deaths

Speaking at the commissioning, Adeyemo said the deployment reflects the Federal Government’s drive to build a more responsive emergency system under the Renewed Hope Agenda. According to him, the ambulances will sharply improve the speed and quality of emergency response, especially in critical cases where delays often cost lives. Indeed, the rollout also forms part of activities marking the administration’s third anniversary.

“These ambulances will improve the movement of patients from homes, schools, markets, highways and other locations to hospitals where they can receive timely medical attention. This will significantly reduce avoidable deaths and complications arising from delayed access to care,” he said. Moreover, Adeyemo described the vehicles as Advanced Life Support units that carry modern medical and communication systems, which alert hospitals before patients arrive so staff can prepare faster treatment.

Local assembly and cleaner fuel

According to Adeyemo, Nigerian workers assembled the vehicles entirely at home, including the emergency medical equipment, which shows the country’s growing strength in local manufacturing. Furthermore, he said the ambulances run on dual-fuel systems that use both Premium Motor Spirit and Compressed Natural Gas, in line with the administration’s energy diversification goals.

“These Tinubu ambulances are a testament to Nigeria’s ability to produce world-class emergency response vehicles locally. Beyond improving emergency healthcare delivery, this initiative will stimulate local manufacturing, create employment opportunities and strengthen confidence in indigenous capacity,” he said. In addition, Adeyemo noted that the project supports the health reforms led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

Consequently, he stressed that efficient emergency transport matters as much as hospital infrastructure in reducing deaths, and he urged state governments, local councils and private institutions to tap Nigeria’s local production capacity. Ultimately, the Federal Government said the nationwide distribution would strengthen referral systems, widen access to lifesaving care and deepen its reforms against high morbidity and mortality.