The Ogun State Government has disputed Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s allegation that emergency responders failed to arrive at the scene of the recent accident at Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, for about 20 minutes.
The state government said its ambulance service and personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reached the location 10 minutes after the accident was reported.
According to the government, a passerby reported the incident at the FRSC post in Ogere, where a state ambulance was stationed, at 12:18 pm on the day of the accident.
It stated that emergency responders arrived at the scene at 12:28 pm, explaining that they had to navigate the highway and cross over to the opposite carriageway to reach the accident location.
The government disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade.
It maintained that the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) acted promptly and assisted in saving lives.
According to the statement, six ambulance stations are situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway between OPIC and Ogunmakin. However, the state’s emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the area concerning the accident.
The government added that the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) also participated in the rescue operation.
READ ALSO:
- Moji Afolayan Explains How Her Childhood Influenced Her Marriage Decision
- Ogun Govt Tackles Kunle Afod Over Claims Of Delayed Accident Rescue
- 2027: I’m Not Leaving Presidential Race, Atiku Tells Tinubu Amid ADC Leadership Crisis
- Tinubu Takes Swipe At Peter Obi Over Anambra Erosion, Mocks Atiku’s Political Moves
- Veteran Actor Diewait Ikpechukwu Passes On
It explained that victims were initially taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those with more serious injuries were transported by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
The Abiodun administration expressed sympathy with the families of those affected by the accident and wished the injured victims a quick recovery.
However, the government accused Afod of giving the incident a political dimension through his video at the accident scene, alleging that the actor was attempting to damage the image of the state administration.
It claimed that Afod was a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, pointing to videos in which the actor campaigned for the opposition politician.
While acknowledging Afod’s right to support any political party or candidate, the government argued that such affiliations should not influence his public comments on an incident involving injured people.
The statement further alleged that the actor had produced a campaign video for Adebutu just days before the accident and described his subsequent video as an attempt to attract negative attention to the Abiodun government.
“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to peddle falsehood out of spite, making a mockery of the respected industry he represents.
“Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded swiftly to the accident in question,” the statement said.
Akinmade condemned what he described as the politicisation of road accident victims, insisting that the state government would not be distracted by politically motivated efforts to discredit its emergency response services.
The government also called on motorists to exercise caution and comply with traffic regulations and road safety guidelines when travelling on highways.
Drivers were specifically warned against speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other actions that could put the lives of other road users at risk.
It also urged motorists to maintain their vehicles in good condition and adhere to safety guidelines issued by the FRSC.
Reiterating that road safety requires collective responsibility, the government called on all road users to make the protection of human lives a priority.
Akinmade further reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to improving safety on highways across the state, urging residents to report emergencies through its dedicated telephone 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 activate the service in the state despite efforts by the government to make it functional.