Ogun Govt Disputes Afod’s Account of Saapade Accident, Says Ambulance Arrived in 10 Minutes

Abeokuta — The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims by Nollywood actor Kunle Afod that emergency responders failed to arrive at the scene of the recent Saapade accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for about 20 minutes, saying its ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps personnel reached the scene 10 minutes after the incident was reported.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the government said a passerby reported the accident at 12:18 p.m. at the FRSC point in Ogere, where a state ambulance was stationed. The ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the scene at 12:28 p.m., it said.

The government explained that responders had to navigate the road and turn to the opposite carriageway to reach the accident scene at Saapade. It said the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System responded promptly and helped save lives.

According to the statement, six ambulance points are located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and the state’s emergency call centre did not receive any distress call from the axis concerning the incident. The Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency also joined the response operation, it added.

The government said victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those with more serious injuries were conveyed by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. It commiserated with the families of those affected and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The statement accused Afod of politicising the incident and attempting to portray the Abiodun administration negatively through his video of the accident scene. It alleged that Afod was a known supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, citing videos of the actor campaigning for the opposition politician.

“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to purvey falsehood out of spite, making utter mockery of the respected industry he represents,” Akinmade said. “Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System responded swiftly to the accident in question.”

The government said playing politics with victims of road accidents was condemnable and that the administration would not be distracted by politically motivated attempts to discredit its emergency response system. It urged motorists to exercise caution, avoid excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and reckless driving, and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.

It also urged residents to report emergencies through the state emergency line, 08112000033, clarifying that the national emergency number 112 was not currently functional in the state because the Nigerian Communications Commission had yet to activate it.