By Adesakin Adefemi
The Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) will partner with the Ogun State Ambulance and Emergency Services (OGSAES), a department under the Ogun State Ministry of Health, to deepen public knowledge of emergency response and promote the 0811 200 0033 emergency line across the state.
The pledge was contained in a formal reply from FIBAN Chairman, Chief Olalekan A. Shoyinka, Ayinla Egba, to a recent request by OGSAES seeking media collaboration to amplify its life-saving programmes and improve response time to distress calls.
FIBAN described the agency’s outreach as “timely and in the collective interest of public health and safety.” The association commended OGSAES for its sustained commitment to saving lives, citing its rapid interventions in road traffic accidents, maternal emergencies, and other critical incidents across Ogun’s 20 local government areas.
Speaking on the partnership, Shoyinka said FIBAN, as a professional body of independent broadcasters, remains committed to initiatives that promote community development and public enlightenment. He stated that the association would deploy its platforms to support OGSAES as part of its corporate social responsibility, with a focus on educating residents about emergency response protocols, first-aid steps, and how to access ambulance services without delay.
He, however, clarified that FIBAN members are independent practitioners who procure airtime for their programmes from various radio and television stations. While full support will be given to the campaign, he noted that certain services may attract subsidized rates rather than being offered entirely free, in line with the operational realities of members.
To drive the campaign, FIBAN will facilitate live studio interviews, phone-in programmes, and special features for OGSAES officials across member platforms statewide. Shoyinka explained that these sessions will allow the agency to directly educate residents on its 24-hour operations, the 0811 200 0033 emergency contact line, and flagship initiatives such as the Rural Emergency Services and Maternal Transport (RESMAT) scheme, which targets hard-to-reach communities and pregnant women in distress.
The chairman urged OGSAES to maintain open and sustained communication with the association to ensure the campaign achieves maximum reach. He assured that FIBAN remains open to future collaborations that will enhance public awareness, reduce fatalities from delayed response, and contribute to the safety and well-being of all residents.
Stakeholders in the health sector say the partnership is expected to strengthen Ogun’s emergency response system by putting critical, life-saving information, including the 0811 200 0033 line directly before residents through trusted radio and TV voices With increased awareness, the state hopes to cut response time and improve survival rates in emergencies.
