The Federal Government has intensified efforts to implement a single national emergency number, with plans to engage state governors and emergency response agencies to ensure the nationwide adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s unified emergency contact.
The move 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, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The meeting came days after the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by the Vice President, approved the adoption of 112 as the country’s national emergency number as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response services and establish a coordinated national system.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President directed that a clear implementation roadmap be developed to facilitate the seamless adoption of the unified emergency number in line with international best practices.
Shettima also instructed the NCC to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), citing the agency’s experience in disaster management, emergency response and rehabilitation across the country.
He assured the Commission of the Federal Government’s commitment to the initiative, saying funding for the project would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and private sector partnerships.
The Vice President further stressed the need for stronger collaboration among emergency response agencies to ensure the success of the initiative.
NCC chairman’s debrief
Earlier, Olorunnimbe briefed the Vice President on the progress recorded by the Commission, disclosing that the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across the country through the deployment of technology.
He commended the Vice President for providing leadership on the initiative and for pledging to engage key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to support its implementation.
The NCC chairman said the next phase of the project would require greater commitment from state governments to sustain the infrastructure already deployed and ensure the emergency communication centres operate effectively.
“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,” Olorunnimbe said.
“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 added.
The National Economic Council had earlier approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee, with programme coordination to be jointly handled by the Office of the Vice President and the NCC, as part of efforts to deliver a unified and efficient emergency response system across Nigeria.
