The Nigerian Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System says poor telecommunications connectivity remains a major challenge, limiting effective emergency response nationwide.

Doubra Emuren, national coordinator of NEMSAS, said this on Monday in Abuja at a workshop for journalists organised by NEMSAS in collaboration with the Solina Centre for International Development and Research.

Mr Emuren said unreliable network coverage continued to disrupt emergency call systems, noting that the National Emergency Number, 112, coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission, remained inconsistent in several locations.

“Connectivity is critical to emergency response. When networks fail, response time is affected, and lives are put at risk,” he said.

He added that weak coordination among agencies, poor infrastructure, and limited regulatory enforcement further hindered seamless operations.

The coordinator said Nigeria had fewer than 1,000 paramedics and about 500 ambulances, far below the estimated 4,000 needed to adequately serve the population.

He reiterated the need to scale up the training of Emergency Medical Technicians to provide basic life support and strengthen pre-hospital care.

Mr Emuren also called for increased private-sector participation and the integration of air ambulances to improve access in congested, hard-to-reach areas.

He said that poor road access, insecurity, and the lack of traffic management systems further complicated emergency operations, and he advocated a framework that prioritised ambulance movement.

He also emphasised the need for a Good Samaritan law to protect citizens who assisted victims during emergencies.

Mr Emuren said NEMSAS had transported about 47,000 pregnant women and neonates across 132 local government areas under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives.

He said the service supported safe delivery by transporting women to health facilities and providing essential kits, while also covering emergencies such as road traffic accidents, snake bites, gunshot injuries, building collapses, and communal clashes at no cost.

According to him, NEMSAS has established structures in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

(NAN)