NEMSAS Says 33 States, FCT Have Ambulance Structures, Urges 112 Upgrade

The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) says emergency medical service and ambulance structures are now in place in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with 21 states already operational.

National Programme Manager, Dr Emuren Doubra, disclosed this while responding to a recent journal publication on emergency medical services in Nigeria. He said the publication introduced NEMSAS and the government’s EMS vision but did not fully reflect the agency’s state-level interventions.

Doubra said the NEMSAS-supported frameworks are designed to coordinate ambulance operations and provide free emergency care for poor and vulnerable patients through state facilities and, in some cases, federal tertiary hospitals. He said no state is currently without a NEMSAS-supported structure, although operational strength differs across states.

He acknowledged capacity gaps, saying ambulance numbers are not yet equitably distributed. He added that three states are still to establish full State Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance Systems. To prevent service disruption in those areas, designated federal tertiary health institutions are serving as interim EMS coordinating centres pending full state rollout.

On financing, Doubra said all states are eligible for emergency treatment gateway funding under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. He noted that some states have not started drawing support, even though required structures have been created, and said the next step lies with state authorities to commence operations fully.

He also raised concerns about emergency communications, saying alternate contact lines had to be adopted because the national 112 line is not consistently effective during urgent situations.

According to him, a recent survey carried out with National Health Fellows across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas found that about 80 per cent of states had access to 112, but first-dial connection problems and low public awareness remain major barriers.

Doubra called on the Nigerian Communications Commission to improve reliability and public awareness of 112 across all telecom networks, noting that performance differs by operator.

He further urged enactment of a Good Samaritan law to protect citizens who assist emergency victims. He said many helpers have faced negative experiences with law enforcement despite acting in good faith.

Beyond ambulance response, Doubra highlighted the Rural Emergency Service and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) programme, which he said is operating in 123 local government areas to reduce maternal and newborn deaths linked to delayed transport.

As of December 2025, he said more than 40,000 pregnant women in hard-to-reach communities had been transported for safe delivery. He added that 11,200 women with obstetric emergencies were moved to NHIA-empanelled Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care facilities and managed successfully, while 1,680 newborn emergency cases were also transported successfully.

Doubra said stronger collaboration among emergency response agencies is needed, with priority attention on improving access to and functionality of 112 nationwide.