Lagos State Government has revealed that 4847 Road Traffic Crash (RTC) victims were rescued and treated in the last year one year by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this yesterday at the ministerial press briefing to mark the second year and second term of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
According to him, during the 15 months under review, the Pre-Hospital Care Unit of LASEMA attended to a total of 4,991 cases.
The Commissioner said: “Out of these, we sadly recorded 144 deaths. However, we also successfully rescued and treated 4,847 victims across different categories of emergencies.”
The Pre-Hospital Care Unit — an integral part of LASEMA’s emergency response system — operates from seven strategically located bases across Lagos, including the Shark Base in Lekki, Tiger Base at Command Control, and Dolphin Unit in Igando, among others.
“These units are the first line of medical response at the scenes of accidents and disasters. They provide immediate and often life-saving interventions before victims are transferred to hospitals,” Ojerinde said.
Giving a breakdown of the lives touched by the unit’s interventions, the Commissioner revealed that the 4,847 treated victims included 1,662 adult males, 1,480 adult females, 126 male children, and 1,579 female children.
“Every one of these numbers represents a life a father, a mother, or a child, saved from the brink of disaster. Our emergency workers are doing heroic work, and they deserve commendation,” he stressed.
According to Oyerinde, the agency’s seven bases collectively handled 1,315 emergency cases, while the Pre-Hospital Care Unit itself responded to an additional 707 incidents within the same period.
From Lekki to Agbowa, our bases responded promptly and professionally, ensuring that lives were saved despite the challenges,” he said.
The Commissioner highlighted the agency’s continued commitment to improving its emergency medical services.
“We are working closely with hospitals, security agencies, and volunteers to strengthen Lagos’ response capability,” he added.
“A closer look at the monthly performance for the first quarter of 2025 showed that the Pre-Hospital Care Unit handled 27 cases in January, 41 in February, and 43 in March, amounting to 111 cases in just three months.
“This shows that our system is alert, functional, and constantly evolving to meet the emergency needs of a mega-city like Lagos.”
While acknowledging the progress, the Commissioner also sounded a note of caution, saying, “Despite all our efforts, the fact remains that 144 people still lost their lives. That is a number we must all work together to reduce. Prevention and public awareness are as critical as our response.”
“As Lagos continues to grow and urbanise rapidly, Oyerinde said the government remains committed to protecting lives.
“We are not resting. From better equipment to ongoing training, we are investing heavily to ensure that LASEMA remains a model of emergency response in Africa.”
