The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved 112 as Nigeria’s official national emergency number, to be used across all agencies and levels of government.
The decision was reached at the council’s 157th virtual meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s emergency response system and ensure faster, coordinated action during crises.
A multi-agency implementation committee will oversee the rollout, with coordination led by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Shettima stressed that the move goes beyond technical reform, describing it as a test of governance and responsiveness.
“This is not only a technical reform. It is a test of the state’s humanity. In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood, violence, or panic, citizens do not need bureaucracy.
They need a response. They need to know one number to call, one system to trust, and one coordinated chain of action that moves quickly enough to save lives.”
He added that while the 112 line already exists, the focus now is on proper coordination, public awareness, standard procedures, and building trust in the system.
The Vice President also urged NEC members to prioritise impactful decisions, noting that governance should be measured by real outcomes for citizens, not the number of meetings held.
In addition, the council reviewed progress on the rehabilitation of police training institutions nationwide and called for the timely release of funds to ensure the project’s smooth take-off, with emphasis on equitable coverage across all geopolitical zones.