THE National Economic Council (NEC) has approved 112 as Nigeria’s official national emergency number, to be used across all agencies and levels of response.
The decision is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s emergency system by creating a single, coordinated response framework.
NEC also endorsed the formation of a multi-agency implementation committee, to be led by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The approval was reached during the council’s 157th meeting, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima explained that adopting a unified emergency number is crucial to eliminating delays often caused by bureaucratic processes.
He stressed that in crisis situations such as accidents, medical emergencies, or security threats citizens need immediate and reliable response systems rather than administrative bottlenecks.
He noted that while the 112 number already exists in some capacity, the priority now is to ensure nationwide coordination, clear operational procedures, public awareness, and institutional accountability.
The Vice President also urged members of the council to focus on decisions that deliver tangible impact, emphasizing that governance should translate into real improvements in citizens’ lives.
In addition, NEC reviewed progress on the rehabilitation of police training institutions nationwide, commending the committee led by Peter Mbah.
The council called on the Ministry of Finance to fast-track the release of remaining funds for the project and urged that training facilities across all geopolitical zones be included in the initial phase.
The move signals a broader push to improve emergency response infrastructure and public safety coordination across Nigeria.
