Nigeria’s National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as a unified national emergency number, in a move aimed at strengthening coordination and speeding up response to disasters 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 (Office of the Vice President), NEC said the initiative would harmonise emergency response systems across federal, state, and relevant agencies.
Shettima stressed that delays caused by bureaucratic processes have often hindered timely interventions during emergencies, noting that citizens require immediate action rather than administrative bottlenecks.
“In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency or violence, citizens do not need bureaucracy—they need response,” the Vice President said.
To drive implementation, NEC approved the establishment of a multi-agency coordination framework led by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The Council noted that while the 112 number already exists, the focus now is on standardisation, public awareness, institutional ownership, and trust-building to ensure nationwide effectiveness.
Shettima added that the reform aligns with broader economic and governance goals, insisting that coordinated action across all tiers of government is essential for national development.
