FG to reintroduces 112 emergency number nationwide
By Oluwatobiloba Olukanni
Nigeria’s federal government steps up efforts to implement 112 as Nigeria’s single national emergency toll-free number, with plans to work closely with state governors to ensure its successful rollout across the country.
Following a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), led by the Chairman of its Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The initiative comes days after the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, approved the adoption of 112 as the national emergency number for use by all levels of government and relevant agencies.
According to a press statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, he directed that a clear roadmap be developed to ensure the nationwide adoption of the unified emergency number in line with global best practices.
Under the proposed system, emergency calls made to 112 will be routed to the nearest Emergency Communications Centre, where trained personnel will coordinate responses from relevant agencies such as the police, fire service, ambulance services, and other emergency responders.
The move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s emergency response system by replacing multiple emergency hotlines with a single, coordinated number.
Shettima also directed the NCC to work with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to implement the project, noting the agency’s experience in disaster management, emergency response, relief, and rehabilitation.
He assured stakeholders that the initiative would receive sustained support, adding that funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and private-sector partnerships to guarantee its long-term success.
The Vice President also stressed the need for stronger collaboration among state governments and emergency response agencies to ensure the effectiveness of the system.
Earlier, NCC Governing Board Chairman, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, briefed the Vice President on the Commission’s progress, revealing that about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) have already been established across the country using technology provided by the Commission. Olorunnimbe appreciated the Vice President for providing leadership on the initiative and for promising to engage the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to support its implementation across the states.
The commission chairman explained that the next stage of the project requires stronger commitment from state governments to maintain the emergency centres and ensure they function effectively.
He also called for the full cooperation of all emergency response agencies, warning that the system can only succeed if every agency plays its role.
“We also need the full commitment of all the response agencies because if someone calls for police intervention and, for some reason, the call does not reach the police, that person will not receive the help they need,” he said.
The Federal Government believes the adoption of a single national emergency number will improve coordination among emergency agencies, reduce response times, and provide Nigerians with quicker access to help during emergencies.
Additionally, the commitment must extend to the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services across the states, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
“Everyone is expected to buy into this initiative and recognise its importance. It is a patriotic duty to our country to ensure that anyone in distress can get the help they need in a very swift manner,” Olorunnimbe stated.
