Wike Hands Over 12 Luxury Ambulances to Abuja Hospitals and Warns Against Using Them for Funerals

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike is finally answering the “doctors vs. roads” debate with a massive delivery of 12 “hospital-on-wheels” ambulance buses. In a colorful ceremony in Abuja this Thursday, the Minister silenced critics who had accused his administration of obsessing over flyovers while neglecting the health sector.

Wike’s response was simple and blunt: you can’t have one without the other. “People were asking why we were concentrating on roads and not health,” Wike said. “But what is the point of a N100 million ambulance if it breaks down in a pothole while a patient is dying? We fixed the roads first so these vehicles can actually save lives.”

The 12 new Toyota Hiace Hiroof ambulances are a significant upgrade for the city’s emergency services. Purchased for N1.74 billion, these aren’t just transport vans; they are fully equipped with the latest medical gadgets to keep patients stable while racing to the hospital.

However, the Minister issued a stern warning to hospital staff: these vehicles are for the living only. In a move to protect the hygiene and “sanctity” of the equipment, the FCT has banned the use of ambulances for carrying dead bodies. Wike noted that special hearses would be purchased in the coming months specifically for the dead, so that emergency stretchers remain clean for the next life-saving run.

Beyond the vehicles, Wike is also opening the government’s checkbook for a major personnel boost. He has given the green light for the FCT Civil Service Commission to start hiring more doctors and nurses to fill the empty halls in rural clinics. With 14 more health centers currently being renovated and hazard allowances finally paid up, the “Wike Revolution” seems to have moved from the asphalt to the ward.