The NEC also directed the finance ministry to release approved funds for the rehabilitation of police training institutions
The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as the National Emergency Number at all levels and across relevant agencies as part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency lifeline and build a unified and coordinated national response to emergencies.
The approval was part of decisions taken at the 157th meeting of the NEC held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The Vice President said the 112 emergency lifeline had become necessary to prevent delay caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks, noting that what the citizens seek urgently when confronted by a natural disaster or insecurity is an urgent response and not bureaucracy.
“This is not only a technical reform. It is a test of the state’s humanity. In moments of fire, accident, robbery, medical emergency, flood, violence, or panic, citizens do not need bureaucracy.
“They need a response. They need to know one number to call, one system to trust, and one coordinated chain of action that moves quickly enough to save lives,” he stated.
Mr Shettima explained that while Nigeria is not beginning from zero, as the emergency number had been in existence, what is required at the moment “is coordination, adoption, standard operating procedures, public awareness, institutional ownership, and trust.”
He described NEC as the nation’s economic engine room, where the federal government and the states must convert the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into practical outcomes.
“We cannot build our way to a one-trillion-dollar economy by federal effort alone. We cannot create millions of jobs by speeches alone. We cannot expand exports, attract investment, secure communities, or unlock productivity unless every tier of government understands its role and performs it with urgency,” the VP noted.
Urging Council members to focus on decisions that would have a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians, VP Shettima said, “History will not ask how many meetings we held. It will ask what changed because we met.
“It will ask whether our decisions reached the farmer, the manufacturer, the artist, the investor, the accident victim, the unemployed graduate, and the child waiting to inherit the country we are rebuilding.”
NEC also received a presentation on the rehabilitation of Police Training institutions across the country from its adhoc committee led by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and commended the adhoc committee for the work done so far.
It also called on the Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of the balance of approved funds for the take-off of the project and urged the committee to ensure national spread by capturing training institutions in each geopolitical zone in the first phase of the intervention.
Other highlights of the meeting include:
UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES AS AT 27TH APRIL 2026
The update for the accountant balances was given to the Council by the Accountant General of the Federation on the direction of the Minister of Finance as follows:
Excess Crude Account $535,823.39
Stabilisation Account N72,844,895,696.42
Natural Resources Account N158,192,972,997.04
PRESENTATION OF NEC ADHOC COMMITTEE ON ERADICATION OF POLIO IN NIGERIA BY GOVERNOR INUWA YAHAYA OF GOMBE STATE
Council received a presentation on the NEC adhoc committee on the eradication of polio across the country.
Council noted the extensive work done and ongoing across the country, particularly the strengthening of political commitment and coordination in the fight to completely eradicate polio in Nigeria.
Most significantly, Council noted the update about the second group of 12 states comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, Kwara, and Nasarawa, who will initiate vaccination efforts from 2 May.
Call to action:
1. The Committee respectfully requests that you direct your state health teams to deliver targeted support and oversight, ensuring that all eligible children are covered.
2. Additionally, please ensure they keep you regularly informed regarding the progress of the campaign.
3. That the Chairman of Council, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, kindly approve the expansion of the Ad Hoc Committee on Polio from six to include seven additional high-risk states (Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Niger, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa), ensuring full political oversight across all high-risk states.
The expansion will strengthen coordination, enhance accountability, and accelerate progress toward polio eradication.
Resolutions:
Council approved the expansion of the ad hoc committee to include seven additional high-risk states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Niger, Yobe, Borno, and Adamawa states, ensuring full political oversight across all high-risk states and strengthening coordinated and enhanced accountability as well as accelerating progress toward polio eradication.
