The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number, positioning it as a single lifeline to coordinate responses to disasters, accidents, and security incidents across the country.
The decision was reached at the Council’s 157th meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, NEC said the initiative is designed to harmonise emergency response systems across federal, state, and relevant agencies.
The move comes against the backdrop of persistent delays linked to fragmented emergency numbers, weak coordination among agencies, and bureaucratic bottlenecks, which have often hindered timely response during crises.
Shettima said the reform is aimed at ensuring that Nigerians have a single, reliable point of contact in emergencies, rather than navigating multiple systems.
“In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood or violence, citizens do not need bureaucracy. They need response,” he said.
To drive implementation, NEC approved the creation of a multi-agency coordination framework led by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The Vice President noted that while the 112 number already exists, the priority now is to ensure nationwide adoption, clear operating procedures, public awareness, and institutional trust.
He added that a unified emergency system would enable a coordinated chain of action, ensuring faster response times and improving the chances of saving lives during critical situations.
