The National Economic Council has approved 112 as Nigeria’s official unified emergency number in a major move aimed at strengthening the country’s emergency response and public safety framework.
The decision was reached during the council’s 157th meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, with the Nigerian Communications Commission mandated to lead implementation efforts nationwide.
Under the new arrangement, the NCC will co-chair a multi agency implementation committee alongside the Office of the Vice President to coordinate emergency communication systems across federal, state, and local authorities.
Officials said the initiative is designed to eliminate fragmentation in emergency reporting by consolidating multiple distress numbers into a single nationwide platform accessible to all Nigerians.
The adoption of 112 aligns Nigeria with global emergency telecommunications standards and is expected to improve response coordination during medical, fire, security, and disaster related emergencies.
Addressing the meeting, Shettima stressed that delayed emergency interventions caused by poor coordination and bureaucratic obstacles have continued to cost lives across the country.
He described the reform as more than a technical adjustment, insisting that effective emergency response reflects the capacity of government institutions to protect citizens during critical situations.
Although the 112 emergency number already exists within parts of Nigeria’s telecom ecosystem, authorities said the major challenge remains operational integration, public awareness, and standardisation among response agencies.
Telecommunications operators are expected to work closely with the NCC to integrate emergency call centres, geolocation technology, and dispatch systems linking police, fire services, and medical responders nationwide.
The council also reviewed ongoing rehabilitation of police training institutions and commended the committee led by Peter Mbah, while directing the Ministry of Finance to accelerate the release of outstanding intervention funds across the geopolitical zones.