The Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, has activated 112 toll-free Emergency Telephone Number at its Emergency Communication Centres, ECCs, in 18 states across the country.
The NCC’s Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta made the disclosure at the 2020 Forum of Spokesperson of Security and Response Agencies, FOSSRA, meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr Danbatta said the states with functional ECCs include Kastina, Ogun, Kano, Plateau, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The NCC boss added that efforts are ongoing to activate ECCs in the remaining states of the federation.
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He said each of the ECC is equipped with eleven workstations, six dispatch workstations for the Response Agencies, and a server system that receives and processes 112-calls from members of the public.
According to him, the calls would thereafter be dispatched to the appropriate Agency that has responsibility to attend to the specific emergency.
While hosting members of FOSSRA, Mr Danbatta commended the military and security agencies in the country for their patriotic zeal in securing the nation’s territorial integrity.
Mr Danbatta assured FOSSRA of full support in their attainment of its objectives.
Early in his remark, the Chairman of FOSSRA and Director, Defence Information, Clement Nwachukwu commended NCC for the establishment of the distress call centres, stressing that the development would help in tackling insecurity through rapid responses of relevant agencies to victims of emergency situations.
Mr Nwachukwu also used the occasion to highlight some of the achievements of military and security in tackling armed banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities in the country.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, Yusuf Anas, explained that FOSSRA has remained relevant since its establishment about six years ago.
“We at the CCC, as the Secretariat of FOSSRA, will give our unflinching support to the new emergency communication centre in our determination to contribute our modest quota in enhancing synergy and collaboration.
“We will as well as provide effective communication strategy to you our major stakeholder directly or indirectly. It is heartwarming to note that the Centre has trained over 400 Public Relations and Information Officers of security and response agencies in the area of crisis communication,” Mr Anas, a retired air-commodore, said.
According to him, CCC is willing to partner with NCC to ensure that the Emergency Centres function effectively and efficiently.
Other highlights of the event was a presentation of Award of Excellence to the NCC boss for his contributions to emergency management in the country, and the induction of Head of Emergency Communication Centre, ECC, Uket Bassey into membership of FOSSRA.
