The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed more than 170 ambulances across the country as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and rescue operations on Nigerian roads.
The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while responding to questions on the operational capacity of the corps’ emergency ambulance network and its response to road traffic crashes (RTCs).
Ohaeri said the FRSC had the largest number of ambulances among emergency response agencies in Nigeria, with more than 170 ambulances and 60 Zebra points across the country.
He, however, clarified that the figure should not be interpreted as the number of ambulances currently operational or serviceable as of September 2026.
According to him, an accurate current figure of serviceable ambulances would require the latest fleet-status report from the corps’ medical and rescue office.
He explained that the figures demonstrated the scale of the corps’ emergency response network, while the availability of individual ambulances was managed based on their location, condition and assignment.
On the adequacy of the ambulances for emergency rescue, Ohaeri said the corps continued to maintain and deploy its assets as part of its emergency response responsibilities, noting that the status of individual vehicles could vary depending on their operational condition and assignment.
He said the corps was also focused on improving its emergency response capacity, particularly by strengthening rescue deployment and collaboration with other relevant agencies.
Ohaeri said the corps had historically recorded an average response time of about 15 minutes under its documented emergency-response programme, but cautioned against presenting the figure as the current nationwide average without updated operational data.
According to him, response time varies depending on factors such as the location of a crash, traffic congestion, distance from the nearest ambulance point and accessibility of the crash scene.
He added that the accuracy and timeliness of information provided by callers could also affect the speed with which rescue teams reached crash scenes, while emergency teams could also be responding to other incidents simultaneously.
Ohaeri stressed that the corps had identified faster response to road traffic crashes and other emergencies as one of its management priorities in 2026.
He said efforts were ongoing to strengthen rescue deployment and inter-agency collaboration to improve emergency response to road crashes.
He added that the FRSC remained committed to improving emergency rescue operations, strengthening the deployment of its resources and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure better outcomes for road crash victims.
The CPEO reiterated that complaints concerning emergency response, evacuation, treatment of victims or other alleged misconduct should be channelled through the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action.
Ohaeri further assured that the corps would continue to strengthen its emergency response mechanisms as part of broader efforts to reduce the consequences of road traffic crashes and improve the safety of road users nationwide.
