The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday moved closer to transforming the country’s emergency-response system as it passed for second reading a bill seeking to establish a single, toll-free, three-digit national emergency number.
Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the bill proposes replacing Nigeria’s fragmented mix of emergency hotlines with a unified code—112—for police, fire, medical, rescue and other urgent situations. Lawmakers argued that the reform is critical to reducing delays, miscommunication and preventable deaths amid rising insecurity.
Leading the debate, Yar’adua said the country has outgrown the “operational disorder” created by multiple emergency numbers across states for ambulance services, police intervention, fire incidents, domestic violence, child abuse and other crises. He noted that adopting a single line would align Nigeria with global practice, citing the United States, United Kingdom and India, where unified numbers have improved coordination, location tracking and first-responder efficiency. With roughly 90 percent of Nigerians owning mobile phones, he added, the system would greatly expand access to help.
Under the proposal, all emergency calls and text messages would be routed to the nearest public safety answering point or control room. Yar’adua urged quick passage of the bill and close collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission, relevant agencies and telecom operators to ensure nationwide coverage.
Senators across party lines backed the measure. Senator Ali Ndume called it “timely and very, very important,” noting that the absence of a reliable reporting channel contributes to Nigeria’s security vulnerabilities. Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno added that a centralised number would remove barriers to reporting and encourage citizens to assist security agencies.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Communications and is expected to return for final consideration within four weeks.