The Nigerian Senate, yesterday passed a bill seeking to establish the Nationwide Emergency Communications Service and subsequently approved 112 as the toll-free number for emergencies.
The passage of the Nationwide Toll-Free Emergency Number (Establishment) Bill, 2021, followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Communications, which was presented by Senator Biodun Olujimi on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
In her presentation, Olujimi explained that Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to establish the Nationwide Emergency Communications Service.
According to the lawmaker, the agency when established, would be charged with the responsibility of deployment and coordination of a seamless and reliable end-to-end infrastructure for emergency needs throughout Nigeria.
She added that Clause 5 of the bill was amended to vest the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) with the responsibility of formulating regulations and guidelines for the workings of the Nationwide Emergency Communications Service.
Olujimi explained that Clause 11 of the bill prohibits the use of telephone and mobile telecommunications services to place a false, frivolous or vexatious call to the emergency number 112.
