The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned a live television incident in which President Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesperson, Alwan Hassan, failed to demonstrate the functionality of Nigeria’s 112 emergency line. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the opposition party described the event as a "national embarrassment" that exposed significant shortcomings in the country’s emergency response systems.
Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, the Spokesperson of the NDC National Campaign Council, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration to acknowledge the challenges facing public services rather than attributing the failure to network problems. The NDC argued that the incident revealed a government that is collapsing, noting that the very system Hassan sought to showcase became a live illustration of administrative failure.
“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 read.
The party raised concerns about the preparedness of emergency response agencies to assist citizens during road accidents, violent attacks, and medical emergencies. The NDC rejected the explanation that technical network issues caused the outage, insisting that the Federal Government should focus on resolving the problem instead of making excuses. The statement further linked the incident to broader governance failures, including insecurity, poorly equipped hospitals, and the rising cost of living.
While criticizing the current administration for prioritizing public image over substantive problem-solving, the NDC also used the platform to promote its 2027 electoral prospects. Ikokwu called on the ruling party to prepare to leave office, asserting that an administration led by NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, would effectively address the nation’s challenges.
The opposition maintained that a functional emergency line is essential for public safety and should not be treated as a public relations tool. The statement concluded by emphasizing that Nigerians deserve trusted institutions and public services that work when lives are at risk, stating that public safety is not a propaganda exercise.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
