The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has announced a dramatic increase in the number of emergency patients transported across Nigeria, rising from fewer than 3,000 to over 11,000 cases in the third quarter of 2025 a 304% increase in emergency response activity.
The milestone was disclosed by Dr. Emuren Doubra, the National Programme Manager of NEMSAS, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
According to Doubra, the surge reflects faster response times, improved coordination, and stronger collaboration among healthcare providers nationwide. He attributed the success to the system’s expansion and better integration of emergency medical services across both urban and rural areas.
“The National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System has expanded operations to 30 States of the Federation, allowing residents in those states to access free emergency medical care by dialling 112,” Doubra stated.
He explained that under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), the federal government fully covers the first 48 hours of emergency treatment for all patients transported by NEMSAS ambulances.
Nationwide Coverage and Expanded Access
NEMSAS now operates in 30 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, with Rapid Emergency Service Management and Triage Units active in 166 of 172 local government areas. However, Dr. Doubra noted that insecurity in some northern communities continues to limit operations in a few regions.
The service has also deepened its partnership with major health institutions. Currently, 26 Federal Tertiary Health Facilities are part of the NEMSAS network, providing specialised referral pathways, skilled medical teams, and essential emergency equipment to manage severe and time-critical cases.
“The scale-up represents a twenty-five per cent increase in onboarded states within a quarter,” he added, “and a three hundred and four per cent rise in emergency medical beneficiaries served overall.”
Improving Nigeria’s Emergency Health Landscape
The NEMSAS initiative, launched to strengthen Nigeria’s pre-hospital emergency care system, aims to make emergency medical response accessible, coordinated, and free at the point of care. Through a unified 112 toll-free line, Nigerians can request ambulances and medical assistance in real time — a step towards reducing preventable deaths caused by road traffic accidents, maternal emergencies, and sudden illnesses.
Health experts have praised the progress, noting that the NEMSAS model demonstrates how integrated funding, digital coordination, and public-private partnerships can transform emergency healthcare delivery in resource-constrained environments.
As NEMSAS continues its nationwide rollout, stakeholders say the goal is to achieve full coverage in all 36 states and the FCT by 2026, ensuring that no Nigerian is denied life-saving care due to distance, cost, or delay.
“Our mission is simple to make emergency medical services accessible, reliable, and timely for every Nigerian, regardless of location or income level,” Dr. Doubra affirmed.
