Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson Embarrassed as 112 Emergency Number Fails Live on TV

A spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Alwan Hassan, was left embarrassed during a live television interview after an attempt to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency number failed.

The incident took place on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television.

During the programme, Hassan asked the interviewer, Seun Okinbaloye, to take his phone and dial 112, Nigeria’s emergency telephone number, to demonstrate that the service was operational.

He suggested that many Nigerians were unaware of the emergency service, which he compared to systems commonly used in countries such as the United States.

“Take your phone and call 112. Nobody knows about this. We used to hear about it in America. Put it on speaker, Seun. Welcome to Nigeria,” Hassan said.

However, the attempt to reach the emergency service was unsuccessful.

“It’s not working. Maybe this is one of you people’s promises that is not fully functional. You have a long list of non-functional promises,” the interviewer responded.

Hassan, apparently acknowledging the failed demonstration, defended the administration and suggested that the government needed more time to deliver on its promises.

“This is why we are asking for more time,” he said.

During the interview, Hassan dismissed claims by opposition politicians that the 2027 political contest would be a battle between President Tinubu and hungry Nigerians.

Asked how the ruling party intended to change the narrative ahead of the elections, he described the opposition’s position as political rhetoric and insisted that Nigerians were not as hungry as critics claimed.

“That is an opposition rhetoric. People are not that hungry,” he said.

When the interviewer challenged him on whether Nigerians experiencing hardship would agree with his assessment, Hassan maintained that he understood the situation in the country because he lived in Nigeria.

“I’m telling you, I live in Nigeria,” he said.

The APC chieftain further argued that the decline in food prices in some markets showed that the Federal Government’s economic policies were beginning to produce results.

He claimed that farmers were complaining about falling prices of agricultural produce because food supplies had increased in the market.

“People are not that hungry the way the opposition are portraying it. And I’ll say it anywhere. People are not that hungry,” Hassan said.

“In fact, farmers are complaining because foodstuffs are down in the market. Why? Because this government is importing and reducing the prices,” he added.

However, when asked whether relying on food imports was evidence of effective management of the agricultural sector, Hassan admitted that Nigeria was currently unable to produce enough food to meet its domestic requirements.

He defended the decision to import food commodities, describing it as a temporary measure to address shortages while the government worked towards improving local production.

“We cannot feed ourselves. No, but while we do things to now cover up on the gaps, well, in the meantime, we must import,” he said.