Abuja, NIGERIA — The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has approved the adoption of 112 as the unified National Emergency Number across all 36 states and the FCT. During the 157th virtual meeting held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Council emphasized that citizens facing insecurity or natural disasters require immediate response rather than bureaucratic delays. A multi-agency committee, led by the Office of the Vice President and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has been established to coordinate this lifeline.
Vice President Shettima described the reform as a “test of the state’s humanity,” asserting that the Renewed Hope Agenda must be converted into practical outcomes that reach the common citizen. In line with strengthening national security, the NEC also directed the Ministry of Finance to expedite the release of funds for the rehabilitation of Police Training Institutions. The project, led by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, aims to ensure a national spread of modern training facilities across all geopolitical zones.
The Council received an update on the Eradication of Polio from Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State. A new round of vaccination efforts is scheduled to begin on May 2, 2026, across 12 high-risk states, including Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Borno. To ensure full political oversight, the NEC approved the expansion of the Ad Hoc Committee on Polio to include seven additional high-risk states, intensifying the drive toward a polio-free Nigeria.
In a move to diversify the economy, NEC approved a ₦200 million (approx. $147,058) contribution from each state toward the Renewed Hope Cultural Project and “Naija Season”—Nigeria’s first unified national tourism calendar. This initiative, presented by the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, aims to create up to 1 million jobs by 2030 through the restoration of historic sites and the establishment of cultural villages.
Okay News reports that the Council also reviewed the National Industrial Policy 2025, which identifies 76 industrial clusters with a projected revenue potential of $2.74 billion over the next 25 years.
Finally, the Accountant General of the Federation provided an update on national account balances as of April 27, 2026. The Excess Crude Account stands at $535,823.39, while the Stabilization Account and Natural Resources Account hold ₦72.8 billion and ₦158.1 billion respectively.
