By Sam Biodun Ogundipe in London

The Ogun State Government has disputed Nollywood actor Kunle Afod’s account of the recent 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 claimed that there was no emergency response for about 20 minutes after the accident

However, the state government said a passerby reported the incident at the Federal Road Safety Corps point in Ogere, where a state ambulance was stationed, at 12:18 pm, while the ambulance and FRSC personnel reached the scene at 12:28 pm.

It explained that the responders had to navigate the road and make a turn to the opposite carriageway before reaching the accident location at Saapade

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded promptly and assisted in saving lives.

The government 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 any distress call from the area concerning the accident.

It further stated that the Nigeria Police and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) participated in the emergency response.

According to the statement, victims were initially taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere, a nearby private medical facility, while those with more serious injuries were transported by the state ambulance to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

The government expressed sympathy with the families of those affected by the accident and wished the injured victims a quick recovery

However, it accused Afod of politicising the incident and using his video of the accident scene to portray the Abiodun administration negatively.

The government alleged that the actor was a known supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, pointing to videos of Afod campaigning for the opposition politician.

It acknowledged that Afod had the right to support any political candidate of his choice but argued that partisan interests should not influence his comments on an incident involving injured victims and their families.

The statement further claimed that Afod had produced a campaign video for Adebutu days before the accident, describing his latest video as an attempt to create negative publicity for the Abiodun administration.

“It is unfortunate that a partisan Nollywood actor chose to peddle falsehood out of spite, making a mockery of the respected industry he represents.

“Contrary to the wild, patently false claims by Mr Kunle Afod intended to incite violence against the Ogun State Government, the Ogun State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (OGSAES) responded swiftly to the accident in question,” the statement said.

Akinmade maintained that using road accident victims for political purposes was condemnable, adding that the Abiodun administration would not be distracted by what he described as politically motivated efforts to discredit its emergency response system.

The government also urged motorists to exercise caution and obey traffic rules and road safety regulations when travelling on the highways.

It specifically warned drivers against excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking, reckless driving and other activities that could endanger road users. Motorists were also advised to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and comply with relevant guidelines issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The government stressed that road safety was a collective responsibility and called on all road users to make the protection of human lives a priority.

Akinmade reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to safeguarding lives on the state’s highways and urged residents to report emergencies through the dedicated state emergency line, 08112000033.

The statement also clarified that Ogun State was not currently operating the national emergency number 112, explaining that the Nigerian Communications Commission had yet to make the service functional in the state despite efforts to activate it