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.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s allegation that the 2026 Service-Wide Vote, SWV, was set aside to fund President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The APC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Wednesday, described Atiku’s claim as “highly mischievous” and a demonstration of “disturbing ignorance of basic principles of public finance”.
Morka said Atiku failed to provide facts to substantiate his allegation, accusing him of making a sensational claim aimed at misleading Nigerians and distracting attention from the achievements of the Tinubu administration.
According to the APC spokesman, the Service-Wide Vote is a long-established budgetary mechanism designed to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that may arise after the annual budget has been passed.
The statement reads in full: “Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has become more disoriented and misguided than ever before in the history of his failed serial presidential bid.
“His recent allegation that the 2026 budgetary Service-Wide Vote (SWV) was set aside to fund President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection campaign is either highly mischievous or shows disturbing ignorance of basic principles of public finance.
“Beyond the headline allegation, @atiku did not advance any facts to verify his sensational claim, which is based purely on conjecture and calculated to inflame, mislead, and distract Nigerians from the visible and steady progress recorded under President Tinubu’s administration.
“You would think that a former Vice President, a man with the longest-standing ambition to be president of Nigeria, would understand the concept and instrument of a “Service-Wide Vote”, an elementary principle of public finance.
“A Service-Wide Vote is a long-established and widely used budgetary mechanism designed to cater for government-wide obligations and unforeseen expenditures that arise after the annual budget has been passed. Similar contingency arrangements exist in virtually all major economies and democracies of the world. A Service-Wide Vote is not a secret fund or an illegal slush account, as Atiku has baselessly and recklessly alleged.
“The ghost of his sordid past haunts Atiku. Ironically, a man whose reputation as a public servant is mired in some of Nigeria’s darkest episodes of mindless corruption and profligacy attempts to smear a high-achieving administration and lecture Nigerians on matters of fiscal responsibility and budgetary transparency.
“Atiku is only seeking to ascribe to others out of the overflowing store of misdeeds in his long and wasteful years in government.
“As a serial presidential contestant, Atiku has never once articulated a clear vision or coherent plan for Nigeria’s development but has remained a petty peddler of fake news and doomsday narratives. Spewing baseless and inflammatory allegations without justification is utterly irresponsible and unbecoming of a former Vice President.
“Nigerians are discerning enough to tell the difference between President Tinubu and the desperate, rudderless presidential candidates such as Atiku. President Tinubu is busy transforming national challenges to national opportunities, and making big and unprecedented wins for our country.
“President Tinubu’s administration has continued to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, and justify the use of public resources through landmark interventions, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has enabled close to two million students to access higher education; the implementation of the new national minimum wage; the Consumer Credit Scheme which expands access to affordable financing; the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative to reduce transportation costs.
“Other presidential programmes include food and other palliatives for vulnerable households; increased investments in infrastructure, healthcare, and agriculture; expanding the country’s industrial complex to create high-paying jobs; and far-reaching tax reforms to simplify the tax system, stimulate economic growth, and ease the tax burden on low-income Nigerians.
“The APC and its administration remain focused on realising the Renewed Hope Agenda, rebuilding the country’s economy, deepening institutional reforms, expanding public infrastructure, and improving living conditions for all Nigerians.“
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has declared that a new era of sports administration and development has begun in Nigeria following Team Nigeria’s stylish arrival in Glasgow ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The arrival, marked by exceptional organisation, professionalism, and a renewed sense of purpose, reflects the Commission’s commitment to repositioning Nigerian sports through strategic planning, innovation, and global best practices.
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, described the team’s arrival as more than a journey to the Games, saying it represents the dawn of a new culture in Nigerian sports.
“What the world is witnessing is a new dimension in sports administration. We are deliberately changing the narrative by placing our athletes first, embracing professionalism, and building a sustainable sports ecosystem that inspires confidence and delivers results.”
Olopade added that the NSC’s reforms are creating opportunities beyond competition by positioning sports as a viable industry capable of producing entrepreneurs, attracting investment, and generating economic value.
“Sports is no longer just about participation; it is about creating value. Through innovative sports marketing and strategic partnerships, we are laying the foundation for a thriving sports economy that empowers athletes and opens new opportunities for Nigerians.”
The DG reaffirmed that Team Nigeria is in Glasgow not merely to participate but to compete with confidence and make the nation proud.
“Our athletes are prepared, our structures are working, and our expectations are high. Team Nigeria has arrived in Glasgow in true Renewed Hope fashion with confidence, class, and the determination to fly the nation’s flag proudly. Now, let the Games begin.”
The National Sports Commission remains confident that the comprehensive preparations undertaken for the Games will translate into podium finishes and further strengthen Nigeria’s reputation as a leading sporting nation in the Commonwealth.