Nigeria expands emergency medical response and ambulance access

Nigeria is expanding its emergency medical response capabilities through new infrastructure and public awareness initiatives. The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has released emergency contact numbers for numerous states, urging citizens to dial 112 for urgent medical assistance. While many states utilize 112, others have specific dedicated lines to facilitate faster response times.

In Lagos State, the Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) are working to establish ambulance points across all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This initiative aims to reduce response times during the ‘golden hour’ of medical emergencies. Plans include the formation of a committee involving civil society to expand the pool of first responders, as well as the creation of Local Emergency Cadets, School and Market Emergency Management Committees to improve grassroots emergency capture.