The Lagos State Ministry of Health has restated its commitment to strengthening emergency medical response through strategic upgrades to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), urging public cooperation to ensure more lives are saved.
Speaking at a media engagement tagged “LASAMBUS: Highlighting Impact, Improving and Sustaining Response,” the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, highlighted LASAMBUS’ critical role in stabilizing victims before hospital care, while outlining new initiatives aimed at overcoming long-standing logistical challenges.
“Emergency response is not just about moving patients; it’s about medical intervention that saves lives before they reach a hospital,” Dr. Ogboye stated.
He traced LASAMBUS’ evolution from just four ambulances in 2001 under former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to its current fleet of 36 ambulances operating from four strategic bases, staffed by over 190 trained personnel.
The service also now includes mobile intensive care units and water ambulances for riverine communities.
Dr. Ogboye revealed that LASAMBUS responded to more than 8,900 emergency calls in 2024 and had already handled nearly 3,000 incidents in the first half of 2025, with a transit mortality rate of less than one per year—an achievement he credited to the team’s clinical expertise.
To further enhance service delivery, the government plans to deploy 10 motorcycle ambulances to beat traffic congestion and launch a First Responder Volunteer Scheme.
Discussions are also ongoing with private helicopter operators to explore air ambulance support for critical cases.
“We’ve also upgraded our digital communication and tracking systems, and are rolling out modular ambulance points across the state,” Dr. Ogboye added, emphasizing the need for the public to stop obstructing ambulance movement and to treat responders as allies in emergencies.
The Director of LASAMBUS, Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, addressed recurring challenges faced by the service, including inaccurate directions from callers, crowd interference, and road access issues.
She urged residents to provide precise information during emergencies and to clear the way for responders.“Saving lives depends on minutes,” she said.
“Every Lagosian must play their part.”Real-life testimonials shared by beneficiaries of LASAMBUS services underscored the human impact of the service.
From road traffic accidents and sudden illnesses to critical obstetric cases, residents narrated how the service offered free, life-saving support during emergencies.
One such story came from Mr. Adebayo Akinola, who credited LASAMBUS with saving his uncle after an accident in Oshodi.
Others, like Morufu Muriana Ademola, an Ibadan resident involved in a major accident in Lagos, expressed gratitude for receiving care regardless of state of origin.
Director Omotayo Oluwakemi Adeyinka of Education District I recalled how LASAMBUS intervened after a child was struck by her vehicle and fell into a coma.
“I offered them money—they refused. That’s true public service,” she said.
The event concluded with expressions of appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose support was credited with bolstering emergency infrastructure across the state.
“We’ve been given the tools and the mandate. Now it’s our duty to deliver,” said Dr. Ogboye.
The LASAMBUS media session forms part of a wider public sensitization campaign designed to boost emergency response efficiency, foster public trust, and promote a culture of swift, cooperative intervention in times of crisis.