Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has introduced 10 new motorcycle ambulances—known as Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) ambulances—to boost emergency healthcare delivery and cut down response times in the state.
The motorcycles, officially handed over to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) on Tuesday, are specially fitted with medical equipment and designed to navigate the state’s notorious traffic gridlock, inner streets, and hard-to-reach communities.
According to state officials, the initiative will enable trained paramedics to reach accident or emergency victims much faster and deliver life-saving care where every second counts.
At the launch, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described the move as a bold step to address Lagos’ unique emergency healthcare challenges.
“These ambu-bikes are designed to beat traffic, reach patients quickly, provide initial treatment, and, when needed, summon larger ambulances for evacuation. This saves precious time and, ultimately, more lives,” she said.
Fully Equipped for Rapid Intervention
Ogunyemi explained that each of the 220cc motorcycles comes with essential medical tools such as blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, nebulisers, glucometers, defibrillators, oxygen kits, radios, sirens, and protective gear for riders.
“Except for a bed, these bikes carry almost everything paramedics need to stabilise patients on the spot—administering CPR, controlling bleeding, giving IV fluids, and more,” she added.
She further noted that the project was swiftly approved by Governor Sanwo-Olu under the THEMES+ agenda, calling it another innovative measure that cements Lagos’ leadership in healthcare delivery.
Part of a Broader Emergency Care Plan
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said the programme is part of a five-year roadmap to modernise pre-hospital emergency services. Lagos has already invested in mobile intensive care units and a boat ambulance, with plans to integrate air ambulances in the future.
“The concept is simple: bikes beat the traffic, paramedics intervene immediately, and ambulances handle evacuation. This coordinated system helps reduce deaths and improves survival rates,” Ogboye explained, adding that the MRUs are linked to LASAMBUS’s communication and data network for efficient dispatch.
LASAMBUS Director, Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, praised the motorcycles as a “game-changer” for Lagos, saying they will significantly improve emergency response times and give residents the service they deserve.
