By Our Reporter
The Ogun State Government has said its ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel arrived at the scene of the recent accident at Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, 10 minutes after receiving a report, dismissing claims by Nollywood actor, Kunle Afod, that emergency responders failed to arrive for about 20 minutes.
The government explained that a passerby reported the accident at the FRSC point in Ogere, where a state ambulance was stationed, at 12:18 p.m., while the ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the scene at 12:28 p.m.
It added that the emergency responders had to navigate the road and turn to the opposite carriageway to reach the accident scene.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government said the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded promptly and helped save lives.
According to the statement, six ambulance points were located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, while the state’s emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the axis regarding the incident.
The government also disclosed that the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) joined the emergency response operation.
It said the victims were initially taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those with more serious injuries were conveyed by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
The government commiserated with the families of those affected by the accident and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
However, it accused Afod of politicising the incident and attempting to portray the Abiodun administration negatively through his video of the accident scene.
The government alleged that the actor was a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, citing videos in which Afod reportedly campaigned for the opposition politician.
While acknowledging Afod’s right to support any political candidate of his choice, the government said he should not allow partisan considerations to influence his comments on an incident involving injured victims and their families.
It further alleged that the actor had produced a campaign video for Adebutu days before the accident, describing his latest video as an attempt to generate negative publicity for the Abiodun administration.
“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to purvey falsehood out of spite, making utter mockery of the respected industry he represents.
“Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded swiftly to the accident in question,” the statement said.
Akinmade described playing politics with victims of road accidents as condemnable, adding that the Abiodun administration would not be distracted by what he termed politically motivated attempts to discredit its emergency response system.
The government also urged motorists to exercise caution and observe traffic rules and road safety regulations while using the highways.
It specifically advised drivers to avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other practices that could endanger road users.
Motorists were further advised to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with relevant guidelines issued by the FRSC.
The government maintained that road safety was a shared responsibility and called on all road users to prioritise the protection of human lives.
Akinmade reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting lives on the state’s highways, urging residents to report emergencies through the dedicated state emergency line, 08112000033.
The statement also clarified that Ogun State was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had yet to make the service functional in the state despite efforts to activate it.
