If you live in Akwa Ibom State or have family there, this is one gist you cannot afford to miss. The state government has put its foot down on a practice that has quietly been going on for far too long — using ambulances meant for sick, living patients to carry dead bodies to burial grounds.
Yes, you read that right. From now on, if you are caught using an ambulance to convey a corpse in Akwa Ibom, you could be on the wrong side of the law.
The Government Has Spoken
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ekem John, made the announcement on behalf of the state government, making it crystal clear that this practice will no longer be tolerated.
This new directive is not just a guideline or a friendly suggestion — it is a criminal offence. The government means serious business.
Why This Matters — And Why It Should Have Been Addressed Long Ago
For many Nigerians, this might sound familiar. Across different states, ambulances — vehicles specifically designed and equipped to save lives — have sometimes been repurposed to transport the deceased to their final resting places.
While this might seem like a convenient arrangement to some families, particularly in communities where proper mortuary vehicles are scarce, the implications are deeply problematic:
– 🚑 It puts lives at risk.* An ambulance tied up transporting a corpse is an ambulance that *cannot respond to a medical emergency. In Nigeria, where ambulance availability is already a serious challenge, every vehicle counts.
– 🦠 It raises serious hygiene and infection control concerns. Ambulances are sterile environments meant to treat patients. Using them for corpse transportation can compromise that environment.
– ⚖️ It is an abuse of public health resources. These vehicles are funded by taxpayers and are meant for the living.
A Wake-Up Call for Other States
Akwa Ibom’s bold move should serve as a wake-up call for other state governments across Nigeria. The misuse of emergency medical resources is not unique to one state — it is a nationwide conversation that needs to happen.
If we are serious about improving healthcare delivery in this country, we must start by ensuring that the tools meant to save lives are protected, respected, and used appropriately.
What You Should Do
If you are in Akwa Ibom and you need to arrange transportation for a deceased loved one, here is the simple advice:
– Contact a licensed funeral home or mortuary service that has the appropriate vehicles for this purpose.
– Do not approach or engage ambulance services for this kind of request.
– Spread the word — let your family and community members know about this new law so nobody falls into trouble out of ignorance.
The Bottom Line
Akwa Ibom State has taken a commendable step in protecting its emergency health infrastructure. As painful as it can be to lose a loved one, it is important that in our grief, we do not compromise systems that are meant to protect other lives.
The government has spoken. The law is clear. Now it is up to residents — and indeed all Nigerians watching — to take note and do the right thing.
What do you think about this new directive? Is your state doing enough to protect emergency health resources? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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