After Tragic Delay, Lagos Emergency Response Under Scrutiny

A serious early morning accident involving three young women on Kingsway Road in Ikoyi on Tuesday has reignited public concern over the state of emergency response services in Lagos State.

The victims, according to eyewitness accounts, suffered severe head injuries following a crash that occurred just before dawn. Despite multiple calls for medical help, no ambulance arrived for over an hour, forcing a bystander to transport the women to the hospital in his personal vehicle.

One of the first responders, Agboola Kotun, who witnessed the accident, took to Facebook to recount the harrowing incident. According to his post, two of the three women sustained major head injuries, and immediate first aid was administered at the scene with the help of a paramedic.

“Unfortunately, after one and a half hours of waiting, I had to use my vehicle to convey them to General Hospital, Lagos,” Kotun wrote.

He further highlighted the urgency of the situation by noting that the husband of one of the victims, an American-trained urologist recently relocated to Nigeria, arrived from Arepo to the hospital in under 30 minutes which was faster than the government ambulance service.

The incident has triggered an outcry on social media, with many Lagosians expressing dismay over what they describe as a decline in emergency medical response in the city.

“Lagos State health sector needs serious intervention urgently,” wrote Mojisola Allison, one of many users who commended Kotun’s bravery.

“We need those ambulances back on our roads,” added Afilaka Bidemi, who appealed to popular broadcaster Babajide Kolade-Otitoju to bring attention to the matter.

Other users praised Kotun’s timely intervention, referring to him as a “doctor” and a “hero” for his actions in helping save the women’s lives.

Despite past investments in emergency infrastructure by previous Lagos administrations, the delayed response in this incident has raised renewed questions about the effectiveness and availability of life-saving services across the city.

Lagos State authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the matter as of press time.