{
  "id": 3770707,
  "title": "Akwa Ibom criminalises use of ambulances to convey corpses",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/akwa-ibom-criminalises-use-of-ambulances-to-convey-corpses-3770707",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-27T16:32:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/akwa-ibom-criminalises-use-of-ambulances-to-convey-corpses/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Akwa Ibom State Government has made it illegal to use ambulances to transport corpses for burial across the entire state. Dr. Ekem John, the State Commissioner for Health, announced the new regulation during a press conference alongside the State's Information Minister, Hon. Aniekan Umana, and the Governor's Chief Press Secretary, Ekerete Udoh. The government has described this law as a significant reform in the health sector. John emphasized that ambulances should only be used for transporting patients in need of medical care, warning that any ambulance, regardless of ownership, caught conveying corpses for burial would be seized by authorities. The reform has established the Akwa Ibom State Emergency Medical Service Ambulance System, which was previously a policy. This new law has effectively criminalized the use of ambulances for transporting corpses. Under this reform, the state government has restored ambulance operations to a standard comparable to Western countries within a year and a half of the reforms initiated by Governor Umo Eno. Under the new law, ambulances will not be found at any burial sites. The prohibition applies to privately owned, mission, or government-operated ambulances. Violations of this law can result in the impounding of the ambulance. The government has submitted nine bills to the State House of Assembly for consideration, addressing matters like hospital governance, public health security, HIV prevention, protection, and anti-discrimination, as well as public health standards and regulations. Once these health standards regulatory bills are enacted, the agency will have the authority to set minimum acceptable standards for all health facilities in the state. Hospitals operating in the state will be required to meet specific requirements before commencing operations.",
  "summary": "Akwa Ibom State outlaws using ambulances to convey corpses for burial, citing public health threats. Violators face impoundment of their vehicles. Read More: https://punchng.com/akwa-ibom-criminalises-use-of-ambulances-to-convey-corpses/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Akwa Ibom criminalises use of ambulances to convey corpses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/akwa-ibom-criminalises-use-of-ambulances-to-convey-corpses",
        "published": "2026-08-27T16:26:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}