Failed 112 emergency line test shows government issues, says NDC

The National Campaign Council of the Nigeria Democratic Congress has called the failure of Nigeria’s 112 emergency number during a live TV demo a "national embarrassment". They accused the federal government of not giving reliable public services.

The council said the incident showed how poor the country's emergency response system is. It also raised doubts about the government's ability to protect its citizens.

Chiogo Ikokwu, the council's spokesperson, made this statement on Wednesday. This was after the failed call during an appearance by Alwan Hassan of the All Progressives Congress on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Hassan, who is part of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, asked presenter Seun Okinbaloye to call 112 to show that the emergency line was working. But the call did not connect, leading Hassan to suggest that network issues might be the cause.

The NDC reacted by saying this incident highlighted the failure of the APC-led government. "The failed attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan, to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line on national television was nothing short of a national embarrassment," the statement said.

The council pointed out that the situation raised serious concerns about Nigeria’s emergency response system. They argued that citizens need a working system to get help during accidents, violent attacks, and medical emergencies.

"Giving an excuse that the line did not work because of ‘network issues’ does not cut it at all," the statement continued.

The NDC said this was not the only failure. They mentioned insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, unreliable public infrastructure, failing institutions, and the high cost of living as other problems facing Nigerians.

They accused the government of focusing more on defending its record than on solving the problems citizens face. "What makes this particularly troubling is the government’s apparent obsession with defending its record rather than fixing the problems. Public resources, government machinery, and official platforms should be used to deliver results, not just create positive headlines," the statement said.

The council added, "Governance is not about what government spokespersons say on television. It is about what ordinary Nigerians experience when they need their government most."

The statement emphasized that Nigerians deserve functional institutions and reliable public services, especially in emergencies.

This controversy follows the TV demonstration on Tuesday, where Okinbaloye reported that his call to 112 did not connect.

PUNCH Online also reported that a call from their correspondent to the number failed to connect. However, an X user mentioned that a call went through in Umuahia, Abia State.

These different experiences raised questions about how consistent the service is across different locations.

Hassan stated that the emergency communication centers should take calls and contact the right responders, like ambulance services and the police. He also mentioned that the Abuja center was ready but that Tinubu directed not to launch it until centers across the country were aligned. He expects this alignment to be completed by March 2027.

When Okinbaloye suggested that the emergency number might be one of the administration’s promises that aren’t fully functional yet, Hassan replied, "We’ll fulfil them. We’ll fulfil them with time. This is why we’re asking for more time."