Nigeria’s 112 Emergency Number Fails Live Test on Channels TV

Nigeria’s national 112 emergency number failed to connect during a live television test, raising concerns about the country’s emergency response system.

The incident occurred on November 10, 2026, during Channels Television’s Politics Today, after Alwan Hassan, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, listed the service among the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

During the discussion, Hassan challenged the programme’s host, Seun Okinbaloye, to call 112 live on air to demonstrate that the emergency service was operational.

“Take your phone and call 112,” he said, explaining that operators would ask callers about the nature of their emergencies.

However, when Okinbaloye dialled the number, the call failed to connect.

“This number is not working,” the presenter said.

APC Chieftain Blames Possible Network Issues

Following the failed call, Hassan maintained that the emergency number was functional and suggested that a network problem might have caused the unsuccessful connection.

However, Okinbaloye noted that other calls were going through from the television studio. He also said viewers had been sending messages reporting similar difficulties connecting to 112.

Hassan insisted that he had successfully used the service in the past. He explained that calls were supposed to reach emergency communication centres, where operators would assess the situation and contact the appropriate response agency.

These agencies could include the police, ambulance services and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

He also disclosed that the government was working on a system that would allow emergency centres to identify callers’ locations through a dashboard. According to him, the technology would help reduce delays in locating people who need urgent assistance.

Government Targets Wider Emergency System Rollout

Hassan said the emergency centre in Abuja was ready but suggested that President Tinubu wanted the system properly coordinated across the country before a full rollout.

He expressed hope that the process would be completed by March 2027.

When Okinbaloye questioned whether the emergency number was another government promise yet to become fully functional, the APC chieftain asked Nigerians to allow more time.

“We’ll fulfil them. We’ll fulfil them with time. This is why we’re asking for more time,” he said.

Concerns Over Nigeria’s Emergency Response System

The failed television test has renewed questions about whether Nigerians can reliably access emergency assistance through the 112 number.

In April 2026, the National Economic Council approved 112 as Nigeria’s national emergency number as part of efforts to establish a unified emergency response system.

The need for a dependable service is particularly important given the country’s road safety figures.

According to figures cited in the report, Nigeria recorded 7,156 road traffic crashes, 3,445 deaths and 22,292 injuries in the first nine months of 2026.

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For the whole of 2025, the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 10,446 crashes, which resulted in 5,289 deaths and 33,400 injuries, according to The Whistler.

Although road accidents are among the emergencies the 112 service is expected to address, the number is also intended to help people report other urgent situations and reach the appropriate response agencies.

The incident has therefore renewed calls for an emergency system that Nigerians can access when they need immediate assistance.