In a significant step towards modernising Nigeria’s emergency response infrastructure, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has successfully passed the National Emergency Toll Service (NETS) Establishment Bill 2025 through its second reading. The landmark legislation, if eventually enacted into law, will introduce a single, nationwide, three-digit toll-free emergency telephone number, effectively replacing the current fragmented system of multiple emergency lines operated by different agencies.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, enjoyed overwhelming support during the debate on the floor of the Red Chamber. Senators from across the six geopolitical zones praised the initiative, describing it as long overdue in a country that has repeatedly grappled with delayed emergency responses due to confusion over which number to call in crises ranging from medical emergencies and fire outbreaks to security threats and road accidents.
Under the proposed framework, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will be designated as the primary regulatory and coordinating authority for the new system. The NCC will work closely with critical response agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service, and state-level ambulance services to ensure seamless call routing and rapid dispatch of help regardless of the caller’s location. The toll-free nature of the number is expected to remove financial barriers that sometimes discourage citizens, particularly in rural and low-income areas, from seeking urgent assistance.
The NETS Bill also mandates the establishment of state-of-the-art emergency call centres equipped with GPS-enabled technology to pinpoint callers’ locations instantly, even when they are unable to speak or provide an address. Proponents argue that such a unified system will drastically reduce response times, save lives, and bring Nigeria in line with global best practices already implemented in countries like the United States (911), the United Kingdom (999), and the European Union (112).
During the debate, several senators shared harrowing anecdotes of constituents who lost loved ones because emergency lines were either engaged, non-functional, or directed callers to the wrong agency. Senator Yar’adua, in his lead debate, emphasised that the absence of a single emergency number has been a “national embarrassment” and a contributor to preventable deaths. He expressed confidence that with the NCC’s technical expertise and existing telecommunications infrastructure, the new system could be rolled out within 18–24 months of the bill’s passage.
Major Reshuffle of Senate Standing Committees
In a related development that dominated the same plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, through the Senate Selection Committee, announced a comprehensive reorganisation of several standing committees. The exercise, described by the leadership as routine but strategic, follows through on earlier commitments to rejig committees in light of evolving national priorities, particularly the worsening security situation across the country.
The most notable change is the appointment of Senator Yahaya Abdullahi from Kebbi North as the new Chairman of the highly sensitive Committee on National Security and Intelligence. Senator Abdullahi, a former university lecturer and seasoned legislator who previously headed the Committee on National Planning, replaces Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who was removed from the position barely a week earlier. Senator Buba, representing Bauchi South, has now been moved to chair the newly prioritised Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry—a portfolio that has gained prominence amid ongoing farmer-herder conflicts and the push for ranching reforms.
In a cascading effect, Senator Mustafa Musa from Yobe State has been elevated to Chairman of the Committee on National Planning, filling the vacancy left by Senator Abdullahi. Meanwhile, the Committee on Air Force witnessed a leadership transition as well, with Senate Minority Whip Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West appointed acting Chairman. Ngwu, who had been serving as deputy chairman, stepped in following the indisposition of the former chairman, Senator Godiya Akwashiki.
Announcing the changes, Senate President Akpabio stressed that the reshuffle was neither punitive nor targeted at any individual but part of a deliberate effort to inject fresh energy and expertise into critical oversight functions. “These adjustments are aimed at strengthening legislative oversight, improving synergy with the executive arm, and ultimately enhancing our collective response to the escalating national security challenges facing our dear country,” Akpabio stated.
Political observers have interpreted the removal of Senator Buba from the National Security and Intelligence Committee as a signal of the Senate leadership’s determination to address perceived lapses in the legislative monitoring of intelligence and counter-terrorism operations, especially in the North-East and North-West zones plagued by insurgency and banditry.
Implications and Next Steps
With the NETS Bill now cleared for clause-by-clause consideration at the Committee of the Whole, stakeholders are optimistic that the legislation will sail through the remaining stages and receive concurrence from the House of Representatives before being transmitted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent. Civil society organisations and emergency response advocates have already begun mobilising public awareness campaigns to ensure smooth adoption once the law is enacted.
As for the committee reshuffle, analysts believe the new chairmen—particularly Senator Abdullahi, reputed for his cerebral approach—will bring renewed vigour to legislative engagements with security agencies. The elevation of the Livestock Committee also underscores the 10th Senate’s commitment to tackling the perennial farmer-herder crisis through robust policy and oversight.
Taken together, Tuesday’s proceedings in the upper chamber reflect a legislature increasingly attuned to the urgency of structural reforms in both public safety and national security governance. Nigerians now await the expeditious actualisation of these initiatives, hopeful that a single emergency number and a reinvigorated oversight mechanism will translate into tangible improvements in citizens’ safety and well-being.
