The Federal Government has begun preparations to activate 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number, directing relevant agencies to finalize an operational framework for its nationwide rollout.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima gave the directive on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at a stakeholders’ meeting on the National Emergency Number 112 Project in Abuja.
He mandated a committee comprising the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Communications Commission, National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps and other relevant agencies to complete an implementation roadmap and standard operating procedures for National Economic Council (NEC) consideration.
The move follows NEC’s April 30, 2026 approval of 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number, intended to provide a single toll-free channel for reporting road crashes, fires, medical emergencies, security incidents, kidnapping and other life-threatening situations.
Shettima urged the committee to adopt international best practices and clearly define the responsibilities of participating agencies, assuring stakeholders that the Federal Government would provide the resources needed to drive implementation.
“Let’s make progress so that whatever time we have spent here is worth spending,” he said, stressing the importance of funding.
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Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu backed the initiative, saying a unified emergency number would remove the difficulty victims often face in identifying the appropriate agency during attacks, accidents, fires, medical crises and kidnapping incidents.
The Personal Assistant to the President on e-Governance, Lydia Aina, said Nigeria’s emergency response remains spread across multiple agencies and jurisdictions, creating coordination gaps.
She said the immediate priorities include establishing clear governance, institutional responsibilities, personnel and operating standards for the system.
NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed and NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu were among stakeholders who pledged support.
Nigeria’s pursuit of 112 dates back more than a decade. NEMA advocated its implementation in November 2013, while a nationwide 112 service was launched in December 2019.
The latest initiative seeks to consolidate those efforts into a coordinated national system capable of routing emergency calls to the appropriate responders.