Nigerian Senate is considering a bill, titled National Emergency Toll Service (NETS) Bill, 2025 (SB 402), which proposes a uniform, toll‑free national emergency number accessible to all Nigerians.
Gatekeepers News reports that sponsored by Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina Central), the bill seeks to replace the patchwork of agency‑ and state‑based hotlines with a single easy‑to‑remember three‑digit code, likely 112, or another number agreed after public consultation.
Supporters argue the move will simplify emergency access, especially given that Nigeria currently has separate helplines for police, fire, ambulance, disaster management, and other services, creating confusion and delay in urgent situations.
Backers such as Ali Ndume and Tahir Monguno say the unified number is timely and urgently needed, especially in light of the country’s security challenges, asserting that a one‑stop contact point could significantly improve response times and coordination.
If passed, the law would empower the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as regulator, mandate nationwide coverage, and ensure calls or texts to the national emergency number are automatically routed to the nearest appropriate response centre.
