Ladies Empowerment Goals And Support Initiative (LEGASI) has rallied important stakeholders to lead the revitalization of the 112 emergency numbers, aiming to enhance public awareness and streamline emergency response.
Since its inception in 2013, the 112 emergency number, backed by over 10 billion Naira in federal government investments, has remained underutilized. The primary culprit behind this underutilization is the general lack of public awareness.
Timothy Lawrence, the Program Manager of the LEGASI initiative, spoke fervently about the paramount importance of the 112 emergency number and why it has not gained widespread adoption.
“Revitalizing the 112 number is pivotal in establishing a robust response mechanism,” Lawrence asserted.
“This system has been operational since 2013, with the federal government investing over 10 billion Naira to establish it. It currently serves approximately 18 states, including Plateau State. The need for revitalization stems from the proliferation of emergency contact numbers from various agencies, which often perplexes Nigerians during crises.”
He continued, “Our objective is to establish a single, easily memorable number that resonates with people during emergencies. Unfortunately, the system has not been adequately promoted in Nigeria, resulting in its low usage.”
“We implore Nigerians to acquaint themselves with the 112 number, and we call on the government to ensure its full functionality and efficiency. We anticipate robust support from both federal and state governments to minimize daily casualties.”
Lawrence underscored the importance of garnering support from pertinent stakeholders, community members, and the media to effectively disseminate the message.
Discussing the concept of Early Warning Early Response (EWER), Lawrence elucidated, “EWER stands for Early Warning Early Response. 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.
