FG Approves 112 as Unified National Emergency Number

By Ene Rebecca

May 1, 2026

The Federal Government has approved 112 as Nigeria’s unified national emergency number in a move aimed at improving coordination and response to emergencies across the country.

The approval was granted during the 157th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), which was held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The decision forms part of efforts to strengthen the country’s emergency response system for incidents such as insecurity, medical emergencies, fires, accidents, and natural disasters.

According to a statement issued after the meeting, NEC also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee to oversee the programme. The coordination effort will be led jointly by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission.

Speaking during the meeting, Shettima said the adoption of a single emergency number had become necessary to eliminate delays associated with bureaucratic procedures during crises. He stated that citizens facing emergencies require immediate assistance rather than administrative bottlenecks.

The Vice President noted that while different emergency numbers already exist in parts of the country, the new initiative is intended to create a coordinated national system with standard operating procedures and stronger public confidence in emergency services.

Council members said the measure is expected to improve communication among security agencies, health responders, firefighters, and disaster management authorities during emergencies nationwide.

The adoption of 112 aligns Nigeria with several countries that operate unified emergency hotlines to ensure faster response and easier public access to emergency services.