The Ogun State Government has confirmed that its ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) teams reached the Saapade crash on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway ten minutes after the incident was reported, countering claims by Nollywood actor Kunle Afod that emergency responders were delayed for about twenty minutes.
According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Strategy Kayode Akinmade, a passerby alerted the FRSC point in Ogere at 12:18 p.m. The state ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the scene at 12:28 p.m., after turning onto the opposite carriageway to reach Saapade. The government said the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) acted promptly and helped save lives.
Six ambulance points were positioned between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the expressway, and the emergency call centre did not receive a distress call from the axis regarding the incident. The Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also joined the response operation. Victims were taken to Victory Hospital in Ogere, while those with more serious injuries were conveyed by state ambulance to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu.
In its statement, the government accused Afod of politicising the incident and attempting to cast the Abiodun administration in a negative light. It noted that Afod had produced a campaign video for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ladi Adebutu only days before the crash, and that the actor’s video was an attempt to generate negative publicity for the government.
The statement also urged motorists to observe traffic rules, avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and other reckless driving practices, and to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy. It reminded residents that road safety is a shared responsibility and encouraged them to report emergencies through the dedicated state line, 08112000033.
Finally, the government clarified that the national emergency number 112 is not yet operational in Ogun State, as the Nigerian Communications Commission has not made the service functional in the state despite ongoing efforts.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
