Ondo govt defends tricycle ambulance initiative amid criticism

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The Ondo State Government has defended its introduction of tricycle ambulances for rural communities, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at improving emergency healthcare access and reducing mortality across the state.

The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Johnson Alabi, said the policy is part of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s broader plan to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.

Alabi explained that many rural communities face serious challenges accessing quality medical services due to poor road networks, which often prevent conventional ambulances from reaching patients during emergencies.

According to him, families in such locations are sometimes forced to transport critically ill persons on motorcycles, a situation he described as unsafe and inadequate for emergency medical care.

He said the tricycle ambulances were introduced as a practical solution because they can easily navigate narrow and poorly maintained roads while linking village health centres to standard hospitals.

The commissioner noted that criticisms of the initiative on social media were largely politically motivated and failed to consider the realities faced by residents of remote communities.

He recalled that a similar approach was adopted during the administration of former governor Olusegun Mimiko under the Abiye Programme, which gained recognition for improving maternal and child healthcare services in the state.

Alabi urged stakeholders to assess government policies objectively, stressing that initiatives designed to save lives and expand healthcare access should be evaluated based on their impact rather than political sentiments.