The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Air Ambulance has resumed operations after successful routine maintenance and completion of all civil aviation requirements. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Head Press Unit, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel.
In 2014, NEMA introduced its first air ambulance for emergency health care.
The aeroplane, which was launched at the Trauma Center of the National Hospital, Abuja, was for quick transportation of patients with emergency cases.
The former Chief Pilot and Head of the NEMA Special Wing of the agency, Captain Ibrahim Mamman, said the project was part of the transformation agenda of the Federal Government of the time.
“The air ambulance can be used to transport patients with critical and traumatic health situations from anywhere the individual is the jet can go anywhere in the world; it has the mile range of 3000 miles.” He said
It will be recalled that in 2018 operations of the air ambulance service were grounded after it was due to routine maintenance and regulatory requirement.
Following leadership changes, repair of the aircraft was completed in 2021 and returned from France.
According to the statement, an official inaugural return flight was held as Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq and Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Habib Ahmed were conveyed from Abuja to Dutse, Jigawa State on an official engagement.
Dominica Nwabufo
