The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number in a move aimed at strengthening rapid response systems across the country.
The decision was taken at the council’s 157th meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, with the goal of creating a coordinated and efficient emergency framework across all tiers of government. Under the new directive, the 112 emergency line will be standardised nationwide to handle incidents ranging from security threats and accidents to medical emergencies and natural disasters.
Addressing council members, Shettima emphasised the urgency of the reform, noting that it is focused on saving lives rather than administrative restructuring.“This is not only a technical reform. It is a test of the state’s humanity… citizens do not need bureaucracy,” he said. “They need 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.”
The council also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee, to be coordinated by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to oversee the rollout of the system nationwide. Beyond emergency response, NEC reviewed progress on the rehabilitation of police training institutions across the country.
The council directed the Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of funds to support the initiative, stressing the need for improved capacity and professionalism within the police force.
The reforms form part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to enhance national security infrastructure, improve crisis response, and strengthen public confidence in emergency services.
