The Federal Government has commenced plans to implement 112 as Nigeria's single nationwide emergency telephone number in a major step towards strengthening the country's emergency response system and ensuring faster access to life-saving services.
The initiative is expected to harmonise emergency communications across the country by providing Nigerians with one easily recognisable number for accessing police, fire, ambulance and disaster response services.
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, following a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the statement, the move follows the recent approval by the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Shettima, for the nationwide adoption of 112 as the country's unified emergency number across all levels of government and relevant agencies.
As part of the implementation process, the Vice President directed the NCC to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the rollout of the initiative and work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to strengthen coordination among emergency response institutions nationwide.
Shettima assured the NCC delegation of the Federal Government's commitment to the sustainability of the project, noting that efforts would be made to secure adequate funding through the National Economic Council while also leveraging support from private sector stakeholders.
"The Vice President assured the delegation that the project would be sustained, with funding mobilised through NEC and private sector support," the statement said.
The government believes that a unified emergency number will eliminate confusion associated with multiple emergency contacts, improve response times and enhance coordination among agencies responsible for handling emergencies.
Speaking during the meeting, the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, disclosed that significant progress had already been made in building the infrastructure required to support the initiative.
According to him, the commission has established approximately 35 Emergency Communications Centres across different parts of the country to receive and coordinate emergency calls.
However, he stressed that sustaining the centres would require stronger collaboration among federal, state and local institutions responsible for emergency services.
Olorunnimbe specifically called on state governors, the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance service providers, the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant organisations to actively support the initiative to ensure its effectiveness.
He emphasised that emergency response is a shared national responsibility that requires the commitment of all stakeholders.
"Everyone is expected to buy into this initiative. It is a patriotic duty to ensure that anyone in distress can get help swiftly," he said.
The NCC chairman noted that the success of the single emergency number would not depend solely on telecommunications infrastructure but also on the readiness of emergency agencies to respond promptly whenever calls are received.
He added that improved coordination among responders would significantly enhance public confidence in emergency services while helping to reduce fatalities and property losses arising from accidents, medical emergencies, fires and natural disasters.
The adoption of 112 aligns Nigeria with global best practices, where many countries operate a single emergency telephone number to simplify public access to emergency assistance and improve the efficiency of response systems.
Experts believe that a unified emergency communication platform will reduce delays caused by uncertainty over which agency to contact during emergencies while enabling quicker deployment of responders to incidents.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, improve information sharing and create a more coordinated national emergency management framework.
Once fully implemented, Nigerians will be able to dial 112 to report emergencies requiring police intervention, fire services, ambulance assistance or disaster response, regardless of their location within the country.
The Federal Government expressed confidence that the initiative would significantly improve emergency service delivery, save lives and reinforce national preparedness for emergencies through a coordinated, technology-driven response system.
