The Nigerian Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System has identified poor telecommunications connectivity as a major challenge limiting effective emergency response across the country, with unreliable network coverage continuing to disrupt emergency call systems. Dr Doubra Emuren, National Coordinator of NEMSAS, stated this on Monday in Abuja at a workshop for journalists organised in collaboration with the Solina Centre for International Development and Research, themed “Strengthening Communications for Emergency Medical Services in Nigeria.”
Emuren noted that the National Emergency Number, 112, coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, remained inconsistent in several locations, directly affecting response times and putting lives at risk. “Connectivity is critical to emergency response. When networks fail, response time is affected, and lives are put at risk,” he said. He added that weak coordination among agencies, poor infrastructure, and limited regulatory enforcement further hindered seamless operations across the emergency medical services value chain.
The coordinator disclosed that Nigeria had fewer than 1,000 paramedics and about 500 ambulances, far below the estimated 4,000 needed to adequately serve the population. He emphasised the need to scale up the training of Emergency Medical Technicians to provide basic life support and strengthen pre-hospital care, noting that expanding EMT training could help bridge the manpower gap and improve response coverage in the short to medium term. He also called for increased private sector participation and the integration of air ambulances to improve access in congested and hard-to-reach areas.
Poor road access, insecurity, and the lack of traffic management systems further complicate emergency operations, with Emuren advocating a framework that prioritises ambulance movement. He also emphasised the need for a Good Samaritan law to protect citizens who assist victims during emergencies, a legal protection that exists in many jurisdictions but remains absent in Nigeria.
Despite these challenges, Emuren reported that NEMSAS had transported about 47,000 pregnant women and neonates across 132 local government areas under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives, supporting safe delivery by transporting women to health facilities and providing essential kits. The service also covers emergencies such as road traffic accidents, snake bites, gunshot injuries, building collapses, and communal clashes at no cost. NEMSAS has established structures in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr Lawal Bakare, Lead for Communication and Innovation at the Sector-Wide Approach Coordination Office of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said SWAp aimed to improve coordination and equity in healthcare delivery, aligning with the National Health Act of 2014 and supporting reforms under the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. He emphasised the role of data, governance, and media engagement in strengthening accountability and public trust in the health system.
Executive Director of the Initiative for Sustainable Media Policy and Health, Moji Makanjuola, highlighted the media’s role in bridging the gap between policy and the public, stating that accurate reporting would enhance awareness, counter misinformation, and promote responsible use of emergency services. Stakeholders at the workshop called for stronger collaboration to improve communication systems, workforce capacity, and infrastructure for a more responsive emergency healthcare system.
