The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is intensifying efforts to implement 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number, following the initiative’s approval by the National Economic Council (NEC).
As part of the next stage of implementation, the commission plans to deepen engagement with state governments and emergency response agencies to ensure the effective rollout of the system nationwide.
The initiative was discussed during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja between Vice President Kashim Shettima and an NCC delegation led by the Chairman of the commission’s Governing Board, Chief Idris Ibikunle Olorunnimbe.
During the meeting, Olorunnimbe informed the Vice President that the NCC had already established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) across the country to provide the infrastructure needed for a coordinated national emergency response system.
The development followed the recent approval by the National Economic Council, chaired by Shettima, for 112 to serve as Nigeria’s single emergency number across all tiers of government and relevant emergency response agencies.
NEC also approved the creation of a multi-agency implementation committee to oversee the initiative, with programme coordination to be jointly led by the Office of the Vice President and the NCC.
NCC to Develop Nationwide 112 Rollout Roadmap
According to Olorunnimbe, the success of the initiative will largely depend on stronger cooperation with state governments, which are expected to support and maintain emergency communications infrastructure. He also stressed the need for emergency response agencies to ensure that distress calls are attended to promptly.
“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),” he said.
In response, Shettima directed the NCC to develop a roadmap for the nationwide implementation of the unified emergency number in accordance with global best practices.
The Vice President also instructed the commission to collaborate closely with NEMA during the rollout, pointing to the agency’s experience in disaster management, relief operations and rehabilitation.
Shettima further assured the NCC of the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining the initiative. He said funding would be mobilised through the National Economic Council and partnerships with the private sector, while calling for stronger commitment from emergency response agencies.
The nationwide adoption of 112 is expected to streamline emergency communications by giving Nigerians a single number through which they can access police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services.
The system is also expected to replace fragmented emergency contact arrangements and improve coordination and response times during emergencies.
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