The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has condemned the growing use of ambulances to transport corpses in Abuja, describing the act as unethical and inappropriate.
Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, announced this on Friday while briefing journalists after the fifth meeting of the FCT Executive Committee, chaired by Nyesom Wike, minister of FCT.
Fasawe said the administration has approved a contract for the purchase of 12 new ambulances and plans to acquire hearses in the next budget cycle to ensure that ambulances are used strictly for medical emergencies.
“In the FCT, we do not allow ambulances to carry corpses. It is against medical ethics because, after a corpse is transported, the same stretcher might later be used for a living patient without proper decontamination,” she said.
“To address this, we plan to buy hearses designed for transporting the dead.”
She added that the 12 new Toyota Hiace Hiroof ambulances (2023–2024 models) are built to international standards and will soon be deployed for use across the city.
“For the first time in almost a decade, the FCT will receive 12 new ambulances,” Fasawe said. “Each is equipped with Bluetooth, airbags, keyless entry, and medical fittings.”
She noted that the new vehicles will improve emergency response in the FCT, especially with better road infrastructure that makes access to outlying areas faster.
“Journeys that used to take 20 minutes now take about five, and with these ambulances, response time could be reduced to three minutes,” she said. “This shows that the FCT system is improving under the current administration.”
Read also: FCTA purchases 12 ambulances for ₦1.74bn to boost emergency response
Fasawe also reminded residents that emergency medical help can be reached by dialing 112, the national emergency number, which is active in the FCT.
“We are working with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the 112 line is functional. Once our ambulance command base is completed, calls to 112 will be directed to the nearest available ambulance whether from FEMA, NEMSAS, or the FCT Health Services,” she added.
