In mega-city Lagos, 20 million count on just 100 ambulances

Such waits can be deadly and are not unusual in the mega-city, where notorious traffic jams snarl commutes and only about 100 ambulances serve a population of more than 20 million.

"It's a serious problem, we waited far too long," Hunsa, 25, told AFP. Her mother, suffering a cerebral haemorrhage, ultimately survived the ordeal.

Political and business big-wigs regularly bust through traffic in the largest city in west Africa with armed convoys and flashing lights -- despite not being in any actual emergency.

Ambulances blast sirens, take shortcuts and speed as fast as they can -- but sometimes to no avail.