The Ogun State Government has disputed Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s account of the recent road accident at Saapade, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, insisting that emergency responders arrived at the scene 10 minutes after the incident was reported.
Afod had earlier raised concerns over the emergency response to the accident, claiming that victims waited for about 20 minutes without assistance.
However, the state government maintained that its emergency medical services and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel responded promptly after receiving information about the crash.
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In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the government explained that a passerby reported the accident at the FRSC point in Ogere at 12:18 pm.
According to the statement, the state ambulance and FRSC personnel arrived at the accident scene in Saapade at 12:28 pm.
The government explained that the emergency responders had to navigate the road and turn to the opposite carriageway before reaching the accident location.
It also disclosed that six ambulance points were located between OPIC and Ogunmakin along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, adding that its emergency call centre did not receive a distress call from the affected axis concerning the incident.
The government further stated that officers of the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) participated in the rescue operation.
According to the statement, victims were initially taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, while those with more serious injuries were transported by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.
The state government commiserated with the families of those affected and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery.
Ogun Government Accuses Kunle Afod of Politicising Accident
Beyond disputing Afod’s account, the Ogun State Government accused the actor of attempting to use the accident to discredit the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
It alleged that Afod was a supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Ladi Adebutu, and referred to videos in which the actor reportedly campaigned for the opposition politician.
The government argued that although Afod was entitled to support any political candidate, his political interests should not influence his comments on an incident involving injured people.
Akinmade described the actor’s claims as misleading and politically motivated, accusing him of attempting to generate negative publicity for the state government.
The administration maintained that it would not be distracted by what it described as efforts to undermine its emergency response operations.
Government Advises Motorists to Observe Road Safety Rules
The Ogun State Government also used the opportunity to urge motorists to exercise caution while travelling on highways across the state.
It warned drivers against excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other practices that could endanger road users.
Motorists were equally advised to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with road safety regulations issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives on the state’s highways and encouraged residents to report emergencies through its dedicated emergency line, 08112000033.
It also clarified that the state was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, explaining that the Nigerian Communications Commission had yet to make the service functional in Ogun despite efforts to activate it.
The controversy has drawn attention to emergency response times and road safety on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with the government maintaining that its emergency personnel acted promptly after receiving the accident report.
