140 patients benefit from FCT ambulance transport in ten days – FCTA
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment Services, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has disclosed that 12 newly commissioned ambulances have been deployed to general hospitals within 24
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mandate Secretary for Health and Environment Services, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, has disclosed that 12 newly commissioned ambulances have been deployed to general hospitals within 24 hours.
Fasawe said the ambulances have since transported over 140 patients within ten days.
The Mandate Secretary, who spoke to our correspondent while giving an update on the newly acquired ambulances, said four were allocated to urban hospitals, while eight were sent to rural communities.
She said the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, directed that the ambulances must be operational immediately after commissioning, adding that the directive has been carried out fully.
Fasawe explained that the 12 ambulances are additions to an existing fleet.
She said; “Most hospitals already had ambulances, though many were outdated or not functioning optimally”.
Fasawe also discussed goals for 2026, including increasing public trust in government healthcare facilities through human resource strengthening, infrastructure upgrades, and implementing electronic medical records.
She detailed the "Abuja Breathe Clean Air Project," which distributes free gas cylinders to address indoor air pollution from cooking with firewood and charcoal, and mentioned seeking support from private sector partners like IHS Towers.
“About ten days ago, we commissioned 12 new ambulances in a well-attended ceremony. This administration believes in delivering on its promises, and I am pleased to report that within 24 hours of commissioning, all 12 ambulances were deployed to general hospitals.
Four were allocated to urban hospitals, while eight were sent to rural communities.
“As of today, our call logs show that over 140 patients have benefited from ambulance transport within just ten days. These ambulances are actively in use, making multiple trips daily and, most importantly, saving lives. In the past, ambulances were sometimes purchased and left idle due to administrative bottlenecks. That is no longer the case.
“The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, directed that the ambulances must be operational immediately after commissioning, and we complied fully. It is important to note that these 12 ambulances are additions to an existing fleet. Most hospitals already had ambulances, though many were outdated or not functioning optimally. In addition, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) also operates ambulances within the system.
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While we acknowledge the need for more ambulances in the future, our immediate priority is strengthening healthcare infrastructure and human resources.
“Our goal for 2026 is to increase public trust in government healthcare facilities and expand patient patronage across our hospitals. We intend to achieve this by delivering qualitative, affordable, and efficient healthcare services. In medicine, we do not advertise, satisfied patients become our ambassadors.
“This year, we are focusing heavily on strengthening human resources. The Minister has approved the recruitment of additional doctors and healthcare workers. Currently, there are no outstanding salary arrears for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, or other healthcare professionals in the FCT system. Infrastructure upgrades are also underway. We are working toward implementing electronic medical records to improve efficiency and reduce patient waiting time.
“Our objective is to create a seamless healthcare experience where patients can access laboratory tests, scans, MRIs, and CT scans within the same facility without unnecessary referrals.
Additionally, health insurance desks have been established in all FCT hospitals.
“I am pleased to announce that antenatal care and delivery services are now free in the FCT under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme. Pregnant women only need to register at the hospital's health insurance desk. The aim is to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality”.
