The Ladies Empowerment Goals And Support Initiative (LEGASI) has taken the lead in rallying key stakeholders to breathe new life into the 112 emergency number, with the goal of bolstering public awareness and streamlining emergency response efforts.
Since its establishment back in 2013, the 112 emergency number, which has benefited from substantial federal government investments totaling over 10 billion Naira, has remained severely underutilized. The primary cause of this underutilization has been the lack of public awareness.
Addressing stakeholders during a 2-Day Inter-Agency Consultation on Early Warning and Early Response held in Jos, Plateau State, Mr. Timothy Lawrence, the Program Manager of the LEGASI initiative, emphasized the critical importance of the 112 emergency number and the reasons behind its limited adoption.
“Reviving the 112 number is crucial for establishing a robust emergency response mechanism,” Lawrence emphasized.
“The system has been operational since 2013, thanks to the federal government’s investment of over 10 billion Naira. Currently, it serves approximately 18 states, including Plateau State. The need for revitalization arises from the proliferation of various emergency contact numbers from different agencies, which often confuses Nigerians during crises.”
He added, “Our objective is to establish a single, easily memorable number that resonates with people during emergencies. Unfortunately, the system has not received sufficient promotion in Nigeria, leading to its low usage.”
“We urge Nigerians to familiarize themselves with the 112 number, and we call upon the government to ensure its full functionality and efficiency. We anticipate strong support from both federal and state governments to reduce daily casualties.”
Lawrence stressed the importance of gaining support from relevant stakeholders, community members, and the media to effectively disseminate the message.
Elaborating on the concept of Early Warning Early Response (EWER), Lawrence clarified, “It’s a concept within the humanitarian sector that has evolved into a conflict mitigation initiative. The idea empowers community members with the skills to identify triggers or early indicators of conflicts or attacks and promptly report them to security agencies to prevent such incidents.”
The Ladies Empowerment Goals And Support Initiative (LEGASI) is a women-led organization dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by women, particularly those affected by conflicts in various parts of the country. Presently, the initiative is more active in Plateau State and Kaduna State.
