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Nigeria, after series of efforts by the Muhammdu Buhari-led administration, joined the league of nations in their conventional approach in tackling crime and responding to emergencies. For those who are familiar with the Hollywood Movie Industry, one would recall the stylish “911! What’s your emergency” phrase and how much we look forward to replicating same in our country.
What does it take anyway to set up a similar operation? We have the security agencies and even a pool of youth willing and ready to work. The Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) Project, according to the Nigerian Communication Commission, is intended to bridge the communication gap between the distressed and emergency response agencies in the country.
To enable the citizen in distress reach the emergency responders as quickly as possible through a reliable communication channel, the Nigerian Communications Commission has undertaken the task of facilitating the building and equipping Emergency Communications Centres in all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In this system, all telecom operators will be mandated to route emergency calls through the dedicated three-digit toll-free number, 112, from each state to the emergency centre within that state. The operators, who are residents in the ECC will then process the distress call and contact the relevant Emergency Response Agency (e.g. Fire Service, Police, FRSC, Ambulance, etc.) whose primary duty is to handle the case.
At some point in the country, Nigerians looked up to states to set up this operation as it is easier for them to manage than for the federal government to control. None of the states in the country or their governors thought about a project this germane but the management of the Nigerian Communication Commission took the bull by its horn and launched the “112 Emergency Communication Centre” across the 36 states of the country and the Nigerian citizens are proud of them.
These centres are equipped with modern-day equipment and well situated with their clandestine operation. Residents around the facilities usually do not know what goes on in the building as visitors are not allowed and they are well-guarded by the Nigerian Security Agencies.
Numerous centres have been built and provided with equipment across the nation in all six geopolitical zones. Twenty-two (22) states are presently active and they include; Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Kano, Yola, Enugu, Cross River, Bauchi, Anambra, Imo, Kwara, Birni Kebbi, Ekiti, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Kogi, Jos, Katsina and the Federal Capital Territory. If your state isn’t listed, just hang in there, NCC is coming to your town pretty sooner than expected.
Nigerians can make calls to 112 at any time of the day as the facilities are run on shifts (Morning, Afternoon and Nights) with about 11 call agents per shift and one supervisor. Calls made to this number are toll-free so callers can express themselves as much as they want without fear of exhausting their airtime.
Much awareness is still needed for the laudable project as most Nigerians still do not know about it let alone take advantage of this service. Nigerians need to know that there is a number they can reach in times of distress.
We believe with the necessary support and funding, more projects of similar importance would be rolled out by the Nigerian Communication Commission.
Akanbi Abdullahi
TheStory.com.ng
