The Lagos State Government on Tuesday commissioned and handed over 10 newly procured Motorcycle Response Unit (MRU) ambulances—popularly called Ambu-Bikes—to the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), in a bold move to cut emergency response times and improve pre-hospital care across the state.
The motorcycles, purchased under the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are designed to beat Lagos traffic, access narrow streets, and reach hard-to-access areas, ensuring faster interventions in emergencies where every minute counts.
Each 220cc superbike is fitted with three aluminium storage bins and essential life-saving equipment, including a defibrillator (AED), portable oxygen, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, nebulizers, glucometers, forceps, protective rider gear, infrared helmets, two-way radios, siren and bar light—enabling paramedics to deliver critical first aid before a conventional ambulance arrives.
Speaking at the commissioning at the Ministry of Health, Alausa, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, described the Ambu-Bikes as another innovative step that reinforces Lagos’ leadership in healthcare delivery and emergency preparedness.
“These bikes will get to people faster than traditional ambulances, provide immediate treatment, and then call for a bigger ambulance if necessary. This way, lives are saved in record time,” she said, adding that the move reflects Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to quality healthcare under the THEMES+ agenda.
She stressed that the Ambu-Bikes are not mere transport tools but fully equipped mobile clinics operated by trained paramedics. “They have everything except a bed. Our paramedics can administer CPR, stop bleeding, give IV fluids, and stabilize patients until ambulances arrive,” she said, noting that the initiative is also cost-effective compared to deploying full ambulances.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said the MRUs form part of a five-year master plan to transform pre-hospital emergency care. “With Mr. Governor’s support, we now have vehicle ambulances, a boat ambulance and these bikes. Soon, helicopters will also become part of our emergency response system,” he revealed.
He explained that the bikes integrate seamlessly with LASAMBUS’ dispatch and data platforms: “When a call comes in, dispatchers decide whether to deploy a bike, an ambulance, or both. The bikes buy time; the ambulances complete the task. This synergy reduces mortality and improves survival rates.”
Director of LASAMBUS, Mrs. Beatrice Makinde, hailed the innovation as a “game-changer” for emergency services in Lagos. “For years, we have battled traffic bottlenecks that slow response. With these bikes, we can now reach victims quicker, improve survival chances, and save more lives,” she said, noting that the MRUs are ideal for crowded event grounds, narrow streets and off-road locations.
Makinde assured residents that LASAMBUS paramedics are trained to handle the bikes and deliver quality pre-hospital care. “The MRUs are equipped with life-support gadgets and will be properly deployed to ensure Lagosians benefit maximally from this innovation,” she affirmed.
With the launch of the Ambu-Bikes, Lagos has once again raised the bar in emergency healthcare delivery, positioning itself as a model for innovative response systems in Africa.
