Nigerian Medical Association to partner transport unions on free basic first-responder training to interstate drivers
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has offered to partner with National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to provide free basic first-responder training to interstate drivers, equipping them to stabilize victims before ambulances arrive at accident scene.
Penpushing reports that the offer was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary General of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Ben Egbo following recent ghastly accident involving world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, resulting in deaths of two of his friends.
The association, however, expressed deepest condolences to the families of Mr. Sina Ghami and Mr. Latif Ayodele, as well as to Joshua following the tragic road traffic accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025.
Penpushing further reports that the body added that it is ready to equally launch a nationwide assessment of “Accident and Emergency” (A&E) departments to ensure they adhere to the treatment first, police report later” policy for all trauma victims.
The statement added that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Emergencies Committee will advocate for a digitized trauma registry to better understand accident hotspots and improve the speed of specialized surgical interventions.
Penpushing also reports that statement emphasisied that the association remain committed to the sanctity of human life and the improvement of nation’s health security, and equally urged all motorists to view vehicle maintenance—particularly tires and braking systems—as a life-saving obligation, not an option.
The association, however, made number of demands to enable address the incessant road crashes which include immediate and sustained action by the Ministry of Works and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to remove stationary vehicles from highway shoulders.
Penpushing reports that it includes improved visibility on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor to prevent night-time and twilight collisions, and also frowned about reports of bystanders focusing on filming or retrieving items from the scene rather than life-saving assistance.
‘The first 60 minutes after an accident (the “Golden Hour”) are critical. We urge the public to prioritize calling the 112-emergency line over social media documentation’, the association emphasised.
Penpushing further reports that the association noted that Nigeria’s current ratio of 0.4 ambulances per 100,000 people is far below the global standard, adding that while the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) has expanded to 30 states, the vulnerable and disconnected nature of pre-hospital care must be bridged.
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) equally called for stricter enforcement of the National Driver’s License (NDL) requirements to ensure only qualified individuals operate vehicles, stressing the need to address the stationary trucks that litter highways, pointing out that these “mobile death traps” remain a primary cause of secondary collisions.
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