The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch, has raised an urgent alarm over its inability to effectively respond to emergencies across the state due to the lack of functional ambulances
A situation the organization described as “deeply challenging and life-threatening.”
Branch Secretary of the Lagos Red Cross Olakunke Lasisi, said the last operational ambulance was a donation from former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
That vehicle, according to him, served the organization for over a decade before breaking down permanently two years ago.
“It was difficult for us to keep fixing the ambulance because you can imagine the number of years it has spent. It served us well, but now, it’s completely packed up,” Lasisi said.
The absence of functional ambulances, he noted, has severely limited the Red Cross’s ability to respond promptly to emergencies — from road accidents to public health crises and disaster scenes — leaving the organization increasingly handicapped in its auxiliary role to government agencies.
“People trust the Red Cross. They know we are there to save lives — during peace and conflict. And in conflict time, the value for life is even higher. So being incapacitated at such a time is a risk to everyone,” Lasisi added.
Lasisi emphasized that during critical emergencies, the neutrality and international nature of the Red Cross allows it to access communities where other government-aligned agencies may be rejected or misunderstood.
“There are situations where some agencies can’t go in because they are perceived to be part of the government. But the Red Cross is trusted. We are received without suspicion,” he explained.
He requested the support of the Lagos State Government for at least six new ambulances to be strategically stationed across the state’s emergency-prone areas.
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“We are calling on organizations declaring huge profits — the gas companies, the banks, and other large institutions — to support us. Red Cross belongs to the people. When we have ambulances and trained responders, we save more lives,” Lasisi pleaded.
Red Cross Disaster Management Officer for the branch, Ige Oladimeji, highlighted the devastating effects of operating without ambulances, citing previous national incidents including the #EndSARS protests, where a lack of mobility hampered the organization’s capacity to intervene effectively.
“We would have done better if we had an ambulance to move with during that time. It’s painful because people were looking up to us,” Oladimeji recalled.
He added that the organization is not only in need of ambulances for disasters but also to participate in public safety campaigns, especially during festive periods.
According to him, Red Cross divisions remain active across all local governments in Lagos and continue to provide online support where physical response is limited.
“We’re not just asking the government; we’re asking all Nigerians. Red Cross is not an NGO — we are a humanitarian organization backed by the constitution. For us to fulfill our duty to protect the vulnerable, we need support,” he concluded.
Despite the overwhelming challenges, the Lagos Red Cross continues to collaborate with agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), receiving training in advanced rescue techniques.
