The Lagos State Government has introduced 10 Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) Ambulances, popularly called Ambu-bikes, to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), in a landmark move to cut emergency response times and strengthen pre-hospital care.
The motorcycles, procured under the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are designed to weave through Lagos traffic and access hard-to-reach areas where conventional ambulances are often delayed. Each 220CC superbike comes fully equipped with emergency tools, including a defibrillator, portable oxygen, nebulizers, glucometers, pulse oximeters, and advanced communication systems.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, Alausa, Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described the project as a “life-saving innovation” tailored to Lagos’ peculiar challenges as a mega city.
“These Ambu-bikes will get to patients quicker than traditional ambulances, provide immediate treatment, and then call for a bigger ambulance if necessary. This way, lives are saved in record time,” Ogunyemi said, stressing that the governor’s swift approval of the project underscores his commitment to healthcare under the THEMES+ agenda.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, disclosed that the MRUs form part of a five-year master plan to overhaul pre-hospital emergency care in Lagos. He revealed that the state already operates mobile intensive care units and a boat ambulance, with plans underway to add helicopters.
“The logic is simple: bikes beat the traffic, paramedics stabilize patients, and ambulances complete the evacuation. This synergy reduces mortality and improves survival rates,” Ogboye explained.
Director of LASAMBUS, Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, hailed the development as a “game-changer,” noting that the MRUs would be critical in traffic-choked areas, narrow streets, event grounds, and off-road terrains.
“Now we can reach victims faster, provide first aid, and save more lives. These bikes are versatile, cost-effective, and designed for Lagos,” Makinde said.
With the deployment of Ambu-bikes, Lagos has reaffirmed its leadership in healthcare innovation, setting a model for emergency response systems in Nigeria and across Africa.