The Federal Government has taken steps to operationalise 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number, with the constitution of a multi-agency committee to develop a comprehensive roadmap for its nationwide implementation.

The committee comprises representatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant government agencies.

The committee was constituted on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed and Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu.

According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President, Shettima directed the committee to draw from global best practices in developing the implementation roadmap.

He added that the roadmap would subsequently be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) for ratification.

“Let’s make progress so that whatever time we have spent here is worth spending. And most importantly, the engine is finance. It is the resources that drive the process. And I want to assure you that we will get the resources,” Shettima said.

The Vice-President stressed the importance of adequate funding to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the emergency response system.

Speaking at the meeting, Disu said the Nigeria Police Force fully supports the initiative, describing it as a major step towards providing Nigerians with a dependable channel for accessing emergency assistance.

He said a single emergency number would make it easier for citizens to obtain prompt assistance during armed attacks, road accidents, fire outbreaks, medical emergencies, kidnappings and other life-threatening situations.

“When citizens are facing an armed attack, accident, fire outbreak, medical emergency, kidnapping, or any other life-threatening situation, one number should be able to provide emergency assistance,” Disu said.

The development follows the NEC’s approval in July of 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number, to be adopted across all levels of government and relevant agencies.

The council also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee and programme coordination to be led by the Office of the Vice-President and the NCC.