Ogun govt counters Kunle Afod, says accident responders arrived in 10 mins

By Osho olatomiwa

The Ogun State Government has defended its emergency response to the Saapade accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, saying an ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel arrived 10 minutes after the incident was reported.

The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, in response to Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s claim that victims waited about 20 minutes without emergency assistance.

The government said a passerby reported the accident at the FRSC point in Ogere at 12:18 p.m, while the ambulance and FRSC personnel reached the scene at 12:28 p.m. Responders reportedly had to navigate the highway and turn to the opposite carriageway to access the crash site.

It added that police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also joined the operation. Victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while those with more serious injuries were transferred to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

The government said six ambulance points operate between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the expressway, but its emergency call centre received no distress call about the incident.

While accusing Afod of politicising the accident, the government maintained that its emergency medical service responded promptly and urged motorists to observe traffic regulations and prioritise road safety.

It advised residents to report emergencies through its dedicated line, 08112000033, clarifying that the national 112 emergency service is not yet operational in the state.