The Federal Government has announced plans to engage state governors and emergency response agencies to finalise the nationwide adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s single national emergency telephone number.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha.
The announcement followed 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 on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the meeting came shortly after the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, approved the adoption of 112 as the unified emergency number for use by all tiers of government and relevant emergency response agencies across the country.
The initiative is aimed at establishing a coordinated national emergency response system capable of providing faster and more efficient assistance to citizens in distress.
Vice President Shettima directed the NCC to develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap and work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to strengthen emergency response coordination nationwide.
He also assured the delegation of the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining the project, noting that funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council in collaboration with the private sector.
The Vice President further urged emergency response agencies to demonstrate strong commitment and collaborate effectively to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.
Earlier, Olorunnimbe disclosed that the NCC has established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres across the country, stressing the need for stronger support from state governments and emergency service providers to keep the centres fully operational.
He called on state governments, the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services and NEMA to work together to ensure that citizens in distress receive timely assistance.
“Everyone is expected to buy into this initiative and recognise its importance. It is a patriotic duty to ensure that anyone in distress can access help as quickly as possible,” Olorunnimbe said.
