Senate begins work on bill to create single toll-free emergency number nationwide

The Nigerian Senate has opened debate on a bill that would establish a single, toll-free national emergency number to replace the patchwork of helplines currently used across the country.

The proposal, titled A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Emergency Toll Service (NETS), seeks to create a uniform three-digit number — likely 112 or another option chosen after public hearings — for reporting police, fire, medical and other emergencies. The legislation would also empower the Nigerian Communications Commission to regulate the system.

Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’adua of Katsina Central, who led Tuesday’s debate, said the measure would harmonize Nigeria’s multiple emergency platforms into one easy-to-remember line. He noted that countries such as the United Kingdom, United States and India have significantly improved response times through unified numbers like 999, 911 and 112.

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Nigeria currently operates several helplines covering police response, fire service, ambulance services, domestic violence reporting, child protection and disaster management. Yar’adua said Lagos alone runs multiple toll-free numbers tied to different agencies — a situation he described as confusing and counterproductive in critical situations.

“A toll-free emergency number would ensure that Nigerians in distress are just a call away from the relevant institutions,” he said. “The number would provide a one-stop shop for receiving distress calls and dispatching them to the appropriate response agencies.”

He added that calls and text messages to the emergency line would automatically route to the nearest response centre, leveraging the widespread use of mobile phones.

Several lawmakers backed the bill. Sen. Ali Ndume of Borno South called it “timely, very important and urgently needed,” arguing that it would strengthen security coordination. Senate Chief Whip Tahir Monguno said it would create a clear channel for citizens to report suspicious activity, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, described the proposal as “a wonderful arrangement.”

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Communications, which would expectedly report back in four weeks. If approved, the system would obligate the NCC to ensure nationwide accessibility and seamless emergency response.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

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