President Bola Tinubu has approved the acquisition of an emergency medical helicopter as part of efforts to strengthen rapid response to health emergencies across Nigeria.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that discussions are already underway with Airbus to establish a nationwide system linking air and ground emergency services.
As part of the initiative, the minister recently held talks with Airbus officials and toured a government-backed air ambulance facility in Lyon, France, where he inspected an emergency response helicopter.
The proposed service is expected to complement ongoing healthcare reforms aimed at improving emergency medical care nationwide.
It will also support the upgrade of the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Scheme, which includes expanding ambulance coverage in urban areas and improving response systems in rural communities.
The introduction of air-based emergency services is seen as a key step toward ensuring faster medical intervention in critical situations.