The Ogun State Government has disputed Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s claim of a 20-minute delay in emergency response to the recent accident at Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, stating on Saturday that its ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps personnel arrived at the scene 10 minutes after receiving a report.
The government’s account directly challenges Afod’s criticism of the rescue operation and has triggered a dispute over the speed of emergency services following the crash.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government said a passerby reported the accident at the FRSC point in Ogere at 12:18pm.
It stated that the state ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the scene at 12:28pm.
According to the statement, responders had to navigate the highway and turn to the opposite carriageway to reach the accident location at Saapade.
The government maintained that the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded promptly and helped save lives.
It also disclosed that six ambulance points were located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. However, it said its emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the axis concerning the incident.
The Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) were also said to have joined the rescue operation.
The government explained that victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while those who sustained more serious injuries were transported by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
It commiserated with the families of those affected and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
However, the statement accused Afod of politicising the accident and attempting to discredit the Abiodun administration through his video of the scene.
Akinmade alleged that the actor was a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, citing videos in which Afod reportedly campaigned for the opposition politician.
The government said Afod was entitled to support any political candidate but argued that partisan considerations should not influence his comments on an incident involving accident victims.
“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to peddle falsehood out of spite, making a mockery of the respected industry he represents,” the statement said.
It described Afod’s account as false and insisted that the state emergency response system acted swiftly.
The government also condemned what it described as attempts to use road accident victims for political purposes, maintaining that it would not be distracted by efforts to undermine its emergency services.
It urged motorists to observe traffic regulations, avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and reckless driving, and ensure their vehicles were roadworthy.
Akinmade reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting lives on its highways and advised residents to report emergencies through its dedicated line, 08112000033.
The statement also clarified that Ogun State was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, explaining that the Nigerian Communications Commission had yet to make the service functional in the state despite efforts to activate it.
