The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has faulted the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the failure of the national 112 emergency line during a live television demonstration by the President’s campaign spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan.
The party described the incident as a national embarrassment, insisting that it exposed the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government to provide functional public services.
Hassan had appeared on Channels Television during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye, where he maintained that the 112 emergency line was operational 24 hours a day, with personnel on standby to respond to distress calls.
He further claimed that Nigerians could access the service without a telephone network.
However, when the television anchor attempted to verify the claim by dialling the number repeatedly, the calls failed to connect. Hassan also attempted to call the line but was unsuccessful, blaming the development on a possible network problem at the studio.
Okinbaloye, however, challenged the explanation, noting that other telephone numbers dialled from the same studio connected without difficulty.
The incident attracted widespread reactions on social media, with Nigerians questioning the effectiveness of the country's emergency response system and mocking the administration over the failed demonstration.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NDC's Spokesperson for its National Campaign Council, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, said the development was evidence of the government's inability to deliver essential services.
The party urged the Federal Government to investigate and resolve the problem instead of offering explanations for the failure of a critical emergency service.
Ikokwu said the incident was particularly disturbing because the 112 line was designed to provide assistance to citizens facing emergencies, including accidents, medical crises and violent attacks.
“The failed attempt by President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Spokesperson, Mallam Alwan Hassan, to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line on national television was nothing short of a national embarrassment, and a prime example of the total flop of All Progressives Congress (APC) government that we’ve been speaking about,” the statement said.
The party argued that a functional emergency response system was a basic responsibility of government, stressing that Nigerians should not be left helpless when they urgently need assistance.
It also accused the Tinubu administration of presiding over broader institutional and infrastructural failures, citing insecurity, inadequate hospital facilities, unreliable public infrastructure and worsening living conditions.
According to the NDC, the government's preoccupation with defending its performance and managing public perception has overshadowed the need to address the challenges confronting citizens.
“Governance is not about what government spokespersons say on television, it is about what ordinary Nigerians experience when they need their government most,” Ikokwu said.
The party consequently challenged the Federal Government to demonstrate its commitment to public safety by ensuring that the emergency number works reliably across the country.
It also called on the APC to acknowledge its shortcomings and begin preparations to leave office after the 2027 general election.
The NDC expressed confidence that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would provide an alternative leadership focused on restoring public confidence in government institutions.
“Nigerians deserve a government that works, institutions that function and public services that can be trusted when lives are on the line. Public safety is not a propaganda exercise. And the lives of Nigerians are too important to be reduced to a failed television demonstration,” the statement added.
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