Commercial Drivers Account for Almost Half of Emergency Transport in Nigeria – Study

A recent report by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has highlighted that commercial drivers associated with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) are responsible for nearly half of the emergency health transportation services in Nigeria.

According to findings outlined in the State of Health of the Nation Report 2025, NURTW drivers account for 47 percent of emergency transport incidents, thereby emerging as the largest stakeholders in patient transport during health emergencies.

Following NURTW drivers, tricycle operators provide 31 percent of emergency transport, while ambulance services and community volunteers contribute an equal share of 11 percent. This overview underscores the increasing dependence on community-based transportation solutions to facilitate emergency healthcare access, especially in regions where formal ambulance services are scarce.

The report further discusses the role of the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), a federal program aimed at enhancing emergency response and referral services across the country. During the review period, a total of 15,517 emergency transports were registered, with a notable focus on maternal needs.

Transportation required due to labor accounted for 12,787 cases (83 percent), while obstacles related to obstetric emergencies were responsible for 1,994 cases (13 percent), and neonatal emergencies made up 736 transports.

This mechanism of community-based transport assists in bridging the gap caused by limited formal ambulance facilities, facilitating the movement of patients from primary healthcare centers to more advanced hospitals capable of providing specialized medical care. Notably, the data indicates that 89 percent of transports were directed to Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) centers, with the remaining 11 percent heading to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) facilities.

In the third quarter of 2025, the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (SEMSAS) and Federal Tertiary Hospitals responded to 5,086 emergencies. It’s noteworthy that all obstetric emergencies utilized the SEMSAS route, while most road traffic accidents, under-five emergencies, gunshot injuries, and snakebite cases were handled by tertiary health facilities.

Out of the 819 neonatal emergencies that both SEMSAS and FTH addressed, 43 resulted in fatalities. This highlights the critical need to bolster newborn emergency response capabilities across all SEMSAS teams. Engagement with private ambulance services and healthcare professionals has enhanced the integration of services into NEMSAS and has led to the deployment of 523 ambulances throughout the country, including 150 in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Despite such advancements, the available ambulances still fall short of the projected national target of 3,143. Nigeria is currently facing a severe shortage of emergency medical services, with just 0.4 ambulances per 100,000 people, significantly below the World Health Organization's guideline of 1 ambulance for every 10,000 individuals.

This deficit limits timely access to healthcare for millions, creating a critical deficit in emergency services, especially since over 80 percent of maternal deaths can be avoided with proper care.

Last year, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Nigeria held the highest number of maternal deaths globally attributed to postpartum hemorrhage, a significantly serious complication following childbirth and a leading cause of maternal mortality. Furthermore, a separate report noted that Nigeria ranks among the countries with the steepest maternal mortality rates, driven by insufficient health financing, a lack of qualified care providers, and inadequate access to emergency obstetric treatment.

An investigation by PREMIUM TIMES in marginalized neighborhoods of Lagos, such as Makoko and Bariga, revealed that shortcomings in primary healthcare services and delayed emergency referals continue to jeopardize pregnant women's safety. The study documented numerous cases where women had to traverse significant distances or utilize boats to reach medical facilities during childbirth, reflecting how inadequate healthcare access exacerbates maternal and neonatal mortality risks in these vulnerable areas.

To tackle these maternal and newborn emergency response challenges, the report reveals that the Rural Emergency Services for Maternal and Newborn Transport (RESMAT) initiative has been rolled out across 166 Local Government Areas (LGA), with 107 actively engaged in emergency transport. Through the SAVEMAMA program, an innovative digital platform is being introduced to ensure the safe transport of pregnant women and newborns to health facilities.

SAVEMAMA is a USSD-enabled Dispatch and Voucher Payment system that connects expecting mothers, local drivers, and healthcare locations through a single short code: 3581. This system ensures prompt access for expecting mothers and women in need, linking them directly to qualified drivers and healthcare entities for timely assistance.