Senate Approves Second Reading Of Bill To Establish Nationwide Toll-Free Emergency Number

As part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity across Nigeria, the Senate on Tuesday approved for second reading a bill seeking to establish a single nationwide toll-free emergency number.

Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the legislation aims to replace the multiple emergency numbers currently in use across states with a uniform, easy-to-remember three-digit code, proposed as 112. The move is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency response system and align it with global best practices.

Speaking during the debate, Yar’adua said the bill would address a major gap in the country’s emergency response system. “Emergency numbers are needed in life-threatening situations. The presence of multiple emergency numbers in Nigeria has been identified as an impediment to getting accelerated emergency response,” he explained.

He noted that states such as Lagos, the FCT, and Ogun operate separate toll-free lines for police, ambulance, fire, domestic violence, and child abuse emergencies, but the fragmentation often causes delays that cost lives. Citing international examples, Yar’adua added that a unified number would improve coordination, enable location tracking, and enhance first responder efficiency.

“Recent statistics show that close to 90% of Nigerians own mobile phones; therefore, a toll-free emergency number will ensure that Nigerians in distress are just a dial away from relevant emergency institutions,” he said.

Senators across party lines supported the proposal. Senate Majority Leader Ali Ndume described the bill as “timely and very important,” emphasizing that it would help address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity by enabling effective communication with security agencies.

Mohammed Tahir Monguno also backed the bill, stressing its importance in enhancing public participation in reporting emergencies. “Our security community is always calling on the public to report what they see. This bill will provide an accessible channel for Nigerians to do so without any hindrance,” he said.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Communications for further legislative action and is expected to report back within four weeks.