The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has prohibited the use of ambulances for transporting corpses, declaring the practice “unethical and unacceptable.”
The directive was announced by Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, following the fifth meeting of the FCT Executive Committee chaired by Minister Nyesom Wike.
Dr. Fasawe stressed that ambulances are strictly for medical emergencies, not for conveying dead bodies. She warned that using them for corpse transportation endangers the health of patients who may later rely on the same vehicles for life-saving interventions.
To address the challenge, the FCTA plans to procure dedicated hearses in its next budget cycle to handle the movement of corpses, ensuring ambulances remain reserved for emergency medical purposes.
In a major boost to healthcare logistics, the administration also announced the acquisition of 12 brand-new, fully equipped Toyota Hiace Hiroof ambulances 2023 and 2024 models, the first such purchase in nearly nine years.
“These ambulances meet international standards with advanced medical equipment, airbags, Bluetooth systems, and keyless entry,” Dr. Fasawe revealed, adding that the vehicles will drastically improve emergency response times, especially in newly rehabilitated suburban communities.
“With these ambulances, what used to take 20 minutes may now take just three minutes to reach patients in need,” she said, underscoring the administration’s commitment to faster, safer, and more efficient emergency medical services in the FCT.
Residents in need of urgent medical assistance can call the national emergency number 112, which is fully functional in Abuja. Dr. Fasawe explained that once the ambulance command base becomes operational, distress calls will be automatically routed to the nearest available ambulance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), or FCT Health Services.
The FCTA’s new measures, she said, are designed to strengthen ethical standards, preserve public health, and modernize emergency healthcare delivery across the Federal Capital Territory.
