Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on government functionaries to prioritise prompt and practical interventions in addressing security challenges and national emergencies, cautioning against the impediment of timely responses by bureaucratic red tape.
During the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, which he chaired, the Vice President urged NEC members, including all 36 state governors, select ministers, and the CBN Governor, to focus on decisions that would yield positive impacts on the lives of Nigerians.
The NEC gave its approval for the adoption of 112 as the National Emergency Number across all tiers of government and relevant agencies. This move aims to bolster Nigeria's emergency response system and establish a cohesive, coordinated national approach to emergencies.
As part of the decision, Council also sanctioned the formation of a multi- agency implementation committee and a programme coordination unit, which will operate under the leadership of the Office of the Vice President and the National Communications Commission (NCC).
These resolutions were made during the 157th NEC meeting, which was conducted virtually and presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima highlighted that the implementation of the 112 emergency lifeline is crucial to circumvent delays caused by bureaucratic hurdles, noting that individuals facing natural disasters or security threats primarily require immediate assistance rather than protracted administrative processes.
Furthermore, the NEC received a report from its ad-hoc committee, chaired by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, concerning the rehabilitation of Police Training institutions nationwide. The Council commended the committee for its diligent work.
The Council also instructed the Ministry of Finance to hasten the disbursement of the remaining approved funds necessary for the commencement of the project. Additionally, the committee was advised to ensure equitable national coverage by including training institutions from each geopolitical zone in the initial phase of the intervention.
Key updates presented at the meeting also included the status of various account balances as of April 27, 2026. The Accountant General of the Federation provided these figures to the Council, acting on the directive of the Minister of Finance.
The account balances reported were: Excess Crude Account at $535,823.39; Stabilisation Account at N72,844,895,696.42; and Natural Resources Account at N158,192,972,997.04.
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