Nigeria 112 Emergency Line don face fresh public scrutiny after APC chieftain Alwan Hassan praise the service as one of the achievements of President Bola Tinubu administration, only for the number to fail when Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye attempt to call am live on television. Wetin suppose be opportunity to showcase government achievement suddenly turn uncomfortable moment, as the emergency number refuse to connect when everybody dey watch. The incident don raise important questions about the readiness, accessibility and reliability of Nigeria emergency response system.
112 Emergency Line Fail Live on TV After APC Chieftain Alwan Hassan Hail Am as Tinubu Government Achievement
The incident happen on Tuesday, November 10, during Channels Television Politics Today programme. Hassan, wey be member of APC Presidential Campaign Council, dey discuss government achievements when e mention Nigeria 112 emergency number as one of the services wey Nigerians suppose appreciate.
To demonstrate how the service dey work, Hassan challenge the presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, to dial 112 and put the phone on speaker. According to am, anybody wey call the number suppose connect with emergency operators wey fit direct the caller to police, ambulance services, fire service or other relevant agencies depending on the situation.
But as Okinbaloye dial the number, the expected connection no happen. The presenter announce say the number no dey work. Hassan suggest say network problem fit dey responsible, but the presenter point out say other telephone calls dey connect from the same location. E also mention say viewers dey send messages to report similar difficulties with the emergency number. A call attempt by a PUNCH correspondent reportedly fail too, although one social media user report say e successfully connect from Umuahia, Abia State.
Hassan maintain say e don personally use the number successfully before and explain how emergency communication centres suppose receive distress calls and contact the appropriate response agencies. E also reveal say government dey develop a system wey go allow operators identify callers’ locations through a central dashboard. According to am, Abuja centre don ready, but President Tinubu want the different centres properly aligned before full nationwide rollout. Hassan express hope say the process go reach another stage by March 2027, before asking Nigerians to give government more time to fulfil its promises.
112 Emergency Line: Nigerians Deserve Working Emergency Service, No Be Just Government Promise
The controversy surrounding 112 Emergency Line no start with this television interview. Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) don dey develop Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) as part of efforts to bridge the communication gap between people wey dey face emergencies and agencies wey suppose respond. The commission explain say the centres suppose receive toll-free calls through 112 and connect callers with relevant services, including police, fire service, ambulance and Federal Road Safety Corps.
On April 30, 2026, the National Economic Council approve 112 as Nigeria national emergency number to strengthen coordination across emergency response agencies. Subsequently, on September 8, 2026, the Federal Government announce say stakeholders, including NCC, Nigeria Police Force, NEMA and FRSC, don receive directive to develop a comprehensive operational roadmap and standard procedures for nationwide implementation. This announcement show say the country still dey work towards achieving a properly coordinated national emergency response framework.
Another important detail come from the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS). In an August 20, 2026 update, the agency encourage Nigerians to use 112 for medical emergencies while also listing additional state emergency contacts. The information identify Lagos as having 112 and 767, while Benue and Imo emergency call centres were listed as currently not operational. This detail show say emergency response availability no dey uniform across every location. 
For this reason, the failed television demonstration deserve serious attention, but e no automatically prove say 112 no dey work anywhere in Nigeria. Reports of successful connections from other locations suggest say the service fit work in some areas while experiencing difficulties in others.
The important issue na consistency. Emergency number suppose work when citizens need am, not only when conditions favourable. Government agencies need to establish whether the problem come from telecom routing, individual emergency centres, staffing, technical infrastructure or coordination between response agencies. Public confidence no go come from press statements alone; na dependable service delivery go build am.
Nigerians no suppose need special connections, repeated telephone attempts or miracle before emergency assistance fit reach them. If government dey advertise one national emergency number, the responsibility to make am functional nationwide must follow the announcement.
The 112 Emergency Line controversy don provide one uncomfortable reminder: emergency no dey give anybody appointment before e happen. Government fit ask citizens for more time to complete infrastructure, but people wey dey face accidents, fire outbreaks, medical crises and security threats need assistance immediately. OGM News Pidgin go continue to monitor developments, especially any official explanation or update on the nationwide rollout.
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