Aiyedatiwa Unveils 20 Emergency, Security Vehicles; Presents Cars to Permanent Secretaries in Ondo
Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Friday rolled out a fleet of 20 vehicles to strengthen emergency medical response and security operations across Ondo State, alongside official cars for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Government House in Akure, saw the unveiling of 10 ambulances and the formal presentation of 10 patrol vehicles donated to security agencies, in what the governor described as a practical demonstration of his administration’s commitment to service delivery.
Speaking at the event, Aiyedatiwa said effective healthcare delivery extends beyond policy pronouncements and the construction of health facilities.
“To us, the delivery of medical services goes beyond policy statements and is not just about the building of healthcare centres,” he said, noting that access to genuine drugs and prompt transportation to hospitals are critical components of quality healthcare.
The governor added that the state’s pharmaceutical group has ensured the availability of quality and unadulterated drugs, while ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects are expected to reduce travel time to health facilities. He also noted that local government councils are grading rural roads, with the state providing ambulances and tricycles to support primary healthcare services.
Highlighting the need for rapid emergency response, Aiyedatiwa observed that despite urban renewal initiatives and the installation of traffic lights to restore order, road accidents cannot be completely eliminated. He said the newly commissioned ambulances would facilitate the swift evacuation of victims from homes and accident scenes to hospitals.
He further disclosed that a GNC survey aimed at equipping hospitals is currently at the benchmarking stage before the State Executive Council, and commended medical personnel across the state for their dedication.
On security, the governor revealed that Sunbeth Global Concept, led by Olasunkanmi Owoeye, donated 10 Toyota Hilux high-grade vehicles to bolster operations. The patrol vehicles, he said, would be deployed to the police, civil defence, the military, the air force, airport services and the anti-land-grabbing task force. He urged the agencies to restrict the use of the vehicles strictly to official duties.
Aiyedatiwa also presented official cars to Permanent Secretaries, describing civil servants as the engine room of government. He maintained that incentives such as promotions, bonuses, vacations and official vehicles are necessary to boost productivity, while cautioning against unauthorised personal use.
In his remarks, the Head of Service, Bayo Philip, described the ceremony as the second phase of vehicle distribution, adding that only about three retirees and a new set of Permanent Secretaries were yet to benefit.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, said the ambulances were procured to strengthen emergency response services. According to him, the fleet includes three advanced life-support ambulances and five basic life-support ambulances, marking the first procurement of such scale in many years. He added that additional ambulances have been captured in the current year’s budget.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretaries, Mrs. Yemi Pirisola thanked the governor for the gesture and pledged their loyalty and commitment to the administration’s goals of improving the lives of residents.
