The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has expanded operations to 30 states of the Federation, enabling residents to access free emergency medical care by dialing 112.
Dr. Emuren Doubra, National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, announced this in an interview with reporters on Sunday in Abuja. He stated that the federal government covers the first 48 hours of treatment, funded through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Dr. Doubra highlighted remarkable progress, noting a 25% increase in onboarded states and a 304% rise in emergency medical beneficiaries served overall. He reported that the number of transported patients increased from fewer than 3,000 to over 11,000, reflecting faster mobilization and strengthened collaboration among providers.
“Twenty-six Federal Tertiary Health Facilities now participate in the system, offering referral pathways, skilled medical teams, essential equipment, and timely interventions, improving outcomes for patients facing severe emergencies,” he said.
Rapid Emergency Service Management and Triage structures now operate in 166 of 172 local government areas, although insecurity has disrupted activation in some northern communities.
Dr. Doubra said that over 5,000 obstetric emergencies received transportation, with 86% delivered to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care facilities capable of surgery, transfusion, neonatal resuscitation, and monitoring. Despite improvements, he noted six maternal deaths and 82 neonatal deaths, highlighting ongoing challenges in stabilizing complicated pregnancies before transfer.
He also disclosed that NEMSAS disbursed more than ₦487 million in the third quarter to states and facilities, covering both tertiary and community-level emergency transport systems. ₦332.6 million went to tertiary health facilities, while ₦154.3 million was disbursed to participating states, including Yobe, Rivers, Ebonyi, Gombe, Ogun, Bayelsa, Osun, Bauchi, and Anambra.
An innovative platform, SAVEMAMA, uses the short code 3581, allowing pregnant women to request emergency transport through free voice calls, USSD, and text messages, without any airtime. The platform verifies requests, alerts trained drivers, coordinates facilities, monitors journeys, confirms safe arrival, and triggers payments to encourage reliable participation.
Dr. Doubra said NEMSAS has partnered with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to deploy “Zebra” ambulances and train staff in basic life support, particularly for obstetric, child, and neonatal emergencies. Currently, 63 Zebra ambulances operate across 23 states, with plans to expand to Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, and Kwara.
He added that a media cell enhances public awareness, coordinating evidence-based communication, building trust, and encouraging early calls to strengthen acceptance of national emergency services.
“Next steps include concluding onboarding, formally launching SAVEMAMA, developing digital enterprise systems, and fully operationalizing every Rapid Emergency Service Management unit across eligible local government areas nationwide,” Dr. Doubra said.
He concluded by reaffirming NEMSAS’ commitment to creating a responsive national emergency medical system, ensuring no Nigerian dies due to delayed lifesaving help.
