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The Akwa Ibom State Government has prohibited the use of ambulances to transport corpses for burial, warning that any vehicle found violating the directive will be impounded.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem John, announced the policy on Thursday during the monthly ministerial briefing organised by the Ministry of Information in Uyo.
Addressing journalists alongside the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umana, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ekerete Udoh, John said the measure forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening emergency medical services in the state.
He explained that Governor Umo Eno had institutionalised the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Service Ambulance System through legislation, transforming what was previously a government policy into a legally backed agency.
According to the commissioner, the new law expressly forbids the use of ambulances—whether government-owned, privately operated or belonging to faith-based organisations—for conveying corpses to burial grounds.
He maintained that hearses are the appropriate vehicles for transporting the dead, stressing that using ambulances for such purposes poses a public health risk and undermines emergency healthcare services.
John said the legislation empowers government officials to impound any ambulance caught transporting corpses, urging residents and funeral service providers to comply with the directive.
He noted that the reforms introduced by the state government over the past 18 months had significantly improved ambulance operations, bringing them in line with international best practices.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government had forwarded about nine health-related bills to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for consideration.
According to him, the proposed legislation covers hospital governance, public health security, HIV prevention, protection and anti-discrimination, as well as public health standards and regulations.
John said the proposed health standards regulatory law would establish minimum operational requirements for healthcare facilities across the state, adding that hospitals would be required to meet prescribed standards before commencing operations.
He expressed confidence that the reforms would strengthen healthcare delivery, improve regulatory oversight and enhance public health protection in Akwa Ibom State.
