Nigeria is moving to adopt 112 as its single toll-free national emergency number, replacing the current multiple fragmented hotlines.
The initiative aims to enable faster and more coordinated responses to fires, road crashes, medical emergencies and security threats across the country.
The decision stems from an approval by the National Economic Council in April 2026.p Recent meetings held on September 8 and 9 directed a multi-agency committee — including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) — to finalise the roadmap for the nationwide rollout.
Once fully implemented, the 112 number is expected to serve as a unified point of contact for emergency services, reducing confusion and delays that currently arise from the use of different numbers for various agencies.
The adoption of a single emergency number aligns Nigeria with international best practices and is seen as a critical step toward improving public safety and emergency response efficiency.
