Nigeria needs better emergency response system

Last Saturday morning, I witnessed a scene that has refused to leave my mind. A hit-and-run driver knocked down a man at the Lotto Bus Stop end of the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and sped off, leaving him lying in a pool of blood by the roadside.

For what seemed like an eternity, the victim remained there, bleeding profusely and helpless, while passers-by watched in shock and uncertainty. Commercial motorcyclists at the scene and some green-and-white-uniformed members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers looked on. It was not that people were unwilling to help. Many genuinely wanted to, but fear held them back.

Some were worried that hospitals would insist on a police report before commencing treatment. Others feared they would be detained, asked to make statements, or become entangled in a process that could consume their time and resources. By the time help eventually came, the injured man was placed on the back of a commercial motorcycle—not an ambulance—and taken away. The scene was a heartbreaking reminder that, beyond reckless driving, Nigeria still lacks the coordinated and responsive emergency medical system that saves lives in many parts of the world. Experience has shown that sometimes accidents do not kill people immediately; delayed emergency response does.

Although there are many who would rather record videos of accident scenes and immediately upload them to their social media platforms than join rescue efforts, there are also many good-hearted Nigerians who genuinely want to help but restrain themselves out of fear of being implicated. They worry that they may be asked to sign undertakings or remain with the patient even after admission. There is also the fear of harassment by security agencies, even when they had nothing whatsoever to do with the accident. Unfortunately, our legal and institutional environment discourages life-saving intervention.

Transporting accident victims on a motorcycle, as I witnessed on Saturday, is simply absurd. A man who was bleeding profusely from the nose and whose left leg appeared to have been broken was placed on the back of a motorcycle with the injured leg dangling, without trained paramedics, first aid, or any emergency medical equipment. That should never happen in a country like Nigeria in the 21st century.

What made the embarrassing situation even more painful for me was the fact that, earlier this month, I witnessed firsthand how accident victims were treated in Marseille, France, where I had travelled to attend a congress.

I was admiring the beautiful view of the city from the window of my hotel room when I saw an elderly man ram his car into one of the beams supporting a nearby bridge. By the time he stepped out of the vehicle, he had sustained a cut on his left hand. His wife, who was travelling with him, looked visibly terrified. I saw two men approach them. One of them immediately made a phone call and left the scene. Shortly afterwards, an ambulance arrived, and the other man also departed.

While I was still watching from my hotel window, the emergency responders professionally attended to the elderly man and his wife and took them into the ambulance. They remained inside while treatment commenced. One of the emergency responders later returned to the slightly damaged vehicle, carefully packed the victims’ valuables, secured the car, and locked it before leaving. The elderly man eventually came out with his arm already bandaged and stayed behind to wait for a tow truck, while the ambulance conveyed his wife away for further medical attention. Yet, this was what could only be described as a relatively minor accident. Quick emergency response is not a luxury; it is standard practice in societies that place a premium on human life.

The lesson from those two incidents is unmistakable. They involved two accidents, in two different countries, with two completely different emergency responses. In the Nigerian case—which was far more serious—there was delay, confusion, fear, and improvisation. In Marseille, on the other hand, where the accident was comparatively minor, there was speed, coordination, professionalism, and reassurance. The difference is not wealth alone, as some may argue. It is also about planning, preparedness, and institutional effectiveness.

Why does swift emergency response matter? It is because many accident victims die from excessive bleeding before they ever get to a hospital. Medical experts often refer to the “golden hour” after a traumatic injury as the critical period that frequently determines whether a victim lives or dies. There is no doubt that prompt medical attention saves lives, while delays increase fatalities and long-term disabilities. In emergencies, every minute counts.

The Federal Government, through its relevant agencies, must strengthen the nation’s emergency medical services. It must invest heavily in ambulance fleets and establish integrated emergency communication systems. Toll-free emergency lines should not only exist but should also be functional and accessible at all times. State governments, on their part, should strategically position ambulances across their states rather than treat them as campaign tools. They must establish emergency response centres and improve coordination with hospitals. Governments at all levels must begin to see emergency care through the prism of an essential public service.

Hospitals also have important responsibilities. No accident victim should be denied emergency treatment because of bureaucracy. Hospitals should, through both their policies and conduct, reassure Good Samaritans that they have absolutely nothing to fear when they bring accident victims for treatment. Emergency care should always come before paperwork because medical ethics place the preservation of life above administrative procedures. Fear of bureaucracy should never cost anyone his or her life.

Citizens are equally not left out if meaningful progress is to be made. Nigerians should make deliberate efforts to learn basic first aid, promptly report accidents, render assistance within safe limits, and encourage responsible road use. The government cannot do everything alone.

With the responsible deployment of technology, the task is easier than many imagine. Functional emergency hotlines, GPS tracking of ambulances, mobile emergency applications, CCTV cameras for quicker incident detection, and integrated communication systems can significantly reduce response time. Technology should complement emergency services, not replace them.

Nigeria cannot continue on this trajectory where hundreds of people die on our roads every year, with many of those deaths clearly preventable. Emergency response remains one of the weakest links in our healthcare and road safety systems. Saving lives should never depend on luck.