By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to adopt 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number, with plans to deepen engagement with state governors and emergency response agencies to ensure seamless implementation across the country.
The decision emerged from a meeting between a delegation of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), led by the Chairman of its Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, and Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.
The move comes days after the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, approved the adoption of 112 as the single emergency number for all levels of government and relevant agencies as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response system.
To facilitate implementation, the council had approved the establishment of a multi-agency committee and programme coordination structure to be jointly supervised by the Office of the Vice President and the NCC.
Addressing the delegation, Shettima directed that a comprehensive roadmap be developed to ensure Nigeria adopts a unified emergency number in line with global best practices.
The Vice President also instructed the NCC to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), citing the agency’s experience in disaster management, relief operations and rehabilitation.
Shettima assured the delegation that the initiative would be sustained, adding that funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and private sector partnerships.
He further stressed the need for stronger commitment from emergency responders to guarantee the success of the project.
Earlier, Olorunnimbe briefed the Vice President on progress made toward implementing the initiative, revealing that the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across the country.
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He commended the Vice President for championing the project and for pledging to engage key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to support its execution.
Olorunnimbe noted that state governments must provide the support needed to maintain the infrastructure already deployed by the commission to ensure the centres operate efficiently.
“In addition, 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.
“So, we need commitment at every level of all response agencies—from top to bottom—including the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services across the states and, at the national level, 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,” he said.
