The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Federal Government of neglecting Nigeria’s emergency response system following the failed attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesperson, Alwan Hassan, to demonstrate the functionality of the 112 emergency line during a live television appearance.
The incident occurred when Hassan attempted to place calls to the emergency line to demonstrate its effectiveness, but the calls reportedly failed to connect.
Reacting to the development, the NDC described the incident as a national embarrassment and said it exposed the challenges facing Nigeria’s emergency response system.
In a statement on Wednesday, signed by the Spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the party urged the Federal Government to address the problems affecting the service rather than dismiss the failed demonstration as a network issue.
The party said the incident raised serious concerns about the government’s preparedness to protect citizens during emergencies, including road accidents, violent attacks, medical crises and other life-threatening situations.
It stressed that Nigerians needed a functional and reliable emergency response system, adding that the government should prioritise public safety instead of engaging in what it described as propaganda and public relations exercises.
Rejecting the explanation that network problems caused the failed calls, the NDC said the government should stop making excuses and take concrete steps to ensure the emergency line works.
The party also linked the incident to what it described as broader failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, citing insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, unreliable public infrastructure, weak institutions and the rising cost of living.
“A government that cannot demonstrate that its emergency line works should be more concerned about fixing the system than staging public relations exercises. What we saw was a failed APC, failed 112 Emergency line, failed everything,” the party stated.
It further argued that public resources, government machinery and official platforms should be used to improve service delivery rather than generate positive publicity for the government.
“The tragedy is that the government appears more interested in defending its image than confronting the realities Nigerians face daily,” it added.
The NDC called on the APC-led government to acknowledge its shortcomings and prepare to leave office in 2027, expressing confidence that a more efficient administration would emerge under its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
“Public safety is not a propaganda exercise. And the lives of Nigerians are too important to be reduced to a failed television demonstration,” the party said.