FG To Roll Out 112 Emergency Number Nationwide

Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed relevant government agencies to develop a comprehensive operational roadmap for the nationwide rollout of 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number.

Shettima gave the directive while chairing a stakeholders’ meeting on the National Emergency Number 112 Project at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The meeting constituted a committee comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Communications Commission, National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant agencies to finalise the implementation roadmap and standard operating procedures.

The framework will be presented for formal endorsement by the National Economic Council before the nationwide rollout.

The 112 initiative is designed to provide Nigerians with a single emergency number through which they can access relevant emergency response services, including police, ambulance, fire and disaster-response services. The Federal Government has previously said the initiative is aimed at creating a more coordinated and efficient emergency response system.

The NCC has also disclosed that it has established about 35 Emergency Communications Centres across the country to support the emergency response system, although effective implementation will require cooperation from state governments and emergency response agencies.