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The Federal Government has announced plans to work with state governors and emergency response organisations to complete arrangements for the nationwide implementation of 112 as Nigeria’s unified emergency telephone number.
The disclosure was contained 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.
According to the statement, the announcement followed a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday 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.
The meeting came shortly after the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, approved the use of 112 as the country’s single emergency contact number across federal, state and local government agencies as part of efforts to establish a coordinated national emergency response system.
During the meeting, Shettima instructed the NCC to prepare a detailed implementation roadmap and collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to improve emergency response coordination nationwide.
“He assured the delegation that the project would be sustained, noting that the required funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and the private sector.
“The Vice President also called for high-level engagement and commitment from emergency responders to drive the successful implementation of the 112 initiative,” the statement read.
Speaking earlier, Olorunnimbe disclosed that the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres across the country. He appealed for stronger collaboration from state governments and emergency response agencies to ensure the centres remain functional.
He stressed that governors, the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services and NEMA must work closely to guarantee timely assistance for citizens facing emergencies.
“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 added.
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