NDC Calls Out Government After 112 Emergency Line Fails During Demo

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 blame the federal government for not providing trustworthy public services.

The council said this incident shows how poor the country’s emergency response system is. It also raises doubts about the government’s ability to protect its citizens.

Chiogo Ikokwu, the spokesperson for the council, made this statement on Wednesday. This was in response to the failed demonstration of the emergency line during an appearance by Alwan Hassan, a leader in the All Progressives Congress, on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

During the program, Hassan asked the host, Seun Okinbaloye, to call 112 to prove that the emergency number was working. But the call did not connect, and Hassan suggested that maybe network issues caused the problem.

The NDC responded by saying this incident shows 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 this situation raises serious questions about Nigeria’s emergency response system. They argued that citizens need a reliable system to get help during accidents, 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 stated that this incident is not the only failure. They mentioned issues like insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, bad public infrastructure, failing institutions, and the rising cost of living as other problems Nigerians face.

They also accused the government of focusing more on defending its performance than solving the problems that affect citizens. “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 deployed to deliver results, not manufacture 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 effective institutions and reliable public services, especially in emergencies.

This controversy followed a Tuesday demonstration, 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, someone on X reported that their call went through in Umuahia, Abia State.

These different experiences raised questions about the service’s reliability in different places. Hassan stated that the emergency communication centers should receive calls and contact relevant responders like ambulance services and the police.

He also mentioned that the Abuja center was ready but that Tinubu had directed that it should not be launched until centers across the nation were ready. He expects this process to be finished by March 2027.

When Okinbaloye suggested that the emergency number might be one of the administration’s promises not fully operational yet, Hassan responded, “We’ll fulfill them. We’ll fulfill them with time. This is why we’re asking for more time.”