Shettima Orders Roadmap for Nationwide Rollout of Nigeria’s 112 Emergency Number
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Odunze Raymond Marako
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed relevant security, emergency and communications agencies to develop a comprehensive operational roadmap for the nationwide rollout of 112 as Nigeria’s single toll-free emergency number.
Shettima gave the directive on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at the National Emergency Number 112 Project stakeholders meeting, where he constituted a committee to finalise the implementation framework and standard operating procedures for the initiative.
The committee comprises representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant emergency-response agencies.
The Vice President directed the committee to produce a clear and workable operational framework that would subsequently be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for endorsement.
He said the roadmap must be developed in line with global best practices and should clearly define the responsibilities and coordination mechanisms among agencies involved in emergency response.
Shettima stressed the need for measurable progress, noting that the government expects the stakeholders to translate the time and resources already invested in the project into a functional nationwide emergency response system.
“We have to ensure that we have measurable progress to justify the time we have invested in this process,” the Vice President said.
He also assured stakeholders that funding would be made available once the implementation framework had been properly established.
“The engine is finance. It is resources to drive the process. And I want to assure you that we will get the resources,” Shettima stated.
The 112 emergency number is intended to provide Nigerians with a unified channel for seeking urgent assistance during emergencies, including fires, road crashes, medical emergencies and security incidents.
The initiative is expected to replace the current fragmented emergency telephone arrangements and establish a more coordinated system through which citizens can quickly reach the appropriate response agencies.
The National Economic Council had earlier approved the adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s unified emergency number as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s emergency response architecture.
At the stakeholders meeting, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu pledged the full support of the Nigeria Police Force for the nationwide implementation of the unified emergency number.
The Vice President also called for stronger commitment and high-level engagement from all agencies involved in emergency response, stressing that effective coordination would be critical to the success of the project.
He said funding for the initiative would be mobilised through the National Economic Council as well as partnerships with the private sector.
Shettima further directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen coordination and ensure effective implementation of the emergency number across the country.
The proposed nationwide system is expected to improve the speed at which emergency calls are received, assessed and directed to the appropriate responders.
The government’s plan is also aimed at reducing delays caused by multiple emergency numbers and improving coordination among security, medical, fire and disaster-response agencies.
With the operational roadmap and standard operating procedures expected to be finalised before NEC consideration, the stakeholders are expected to work towards establishing a uniform framework for the deployment and management of 112 nationwide.
By Odunze Raymond Marako
