The Federal Government has begun plans to introduce 112 as the country’s single emergency telephone number to improve the speed and coordination of emergency response services nationwide.
To achieve this, the government said it would work with state governors and emergency response agencies to ensure the number is adopted and used across the country.
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, after a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and a delegation from the Nigerian Communications Commission led by the Chairman of its Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe, at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the initiative followed the recent approval by the National Economic Council for 112 to serve as the country’s unified emergency telephone number for all government levels and emergency agencies.
The Vice President directed the NCC to prepare a detailed implementation plan and collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen emergency response coordination across Nigeria.
Shettima also assured the delegation that funding for the project would be secured through the National Economic Council and support from the private sector to ensure its successful implementation.
Speaking at the meeting, Olorunnimbe said the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres across the country but stressed the need for stronger collaboration to keep them fully operational.
He said state governments, the Nigeria Police Force, ambulance services and the National Emergency Management Agency must work together to ensure people facing emergencies receive prompt assistance whenever they dial 112.
Olorunnimbe added that the success of the initiative depended on the commitment of all stakeholders, describing it as a national responsibility to ensure anyone in distress can quickly access emergency services anywhere in the country.
