Nigerian Communications Commission has expressed that Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs) are important for safety of lives and properties.
In 2019, NCC, in line with global practices, concluded plans to launch a number of Emergency Communications Centres (ECC) across the country.
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The development was part of its mandate to “Promote and enhance public safety through the use of a particular number which shall be designated as the Universal Safety and Emergency Assistance Number for telephone services generally.”
Nigerians, through the initiative, get to access help from any Response Agency such as Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire and Ambulance Services by simply dialing a toll free number 112 from any network.
Federal Executive Council (FEC), approved the establishment of National Emergency Communications Agency (NECA) to set up an Emergency Communications System for Nigeria.
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Members were drawn from Ministry of Communication, NCC, Telecom Network Operators, Security Agencies, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant agencies for the adoption of a three-digit emergency number, 112.
Re-emphasising the importance of ECC, an NCC in a statement on Monday, April 19, stated that;
The purpose of ECC is to create a platform upon which Nigerians can access the toll free 112 services. Before now, the project was not operational, so kudos to Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta for making the 19 ECC functional and operational. There are currently about 19 centres and they are all operational.
What the ECC does is to provide an harmonised platform which is connected to a communication network where all citizens of Nigeria can access though their mobile phones. So, the 112 is toll free and the purpose is to ensure that Nigerians dial the 112 for quick response to save lives and properties.
It continued;
One of the key agendas of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari is to improve the security of the lives and properties of the citizens, among fighting corruption and other economic empowerment. ECC is an harmonised platform, a one-stop shop for everyone in Nigeria through the use of mobile phones by dialling 112 to access the centre.
Once you are able to access it, your emergencies, irrespective of your distress would be attended to and would be dispatched immediately to the responsive agents that will come to your rescue, and that is the important of ECC. In democracy, one of the key dividend of democracy is to provide security for your citizens and that what the government of Nigeria is trying to achieve through this platform.
With 19 ECCs already established in 18 states of the Federation and the FCT, the centers play a vital role during emergencies as they facilitate response from emergency response agencies.
The centres thereby serve as a communication link between Public Response Agencies and members of the public.
Some of the states with operational Emergency Communications Centres are: Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Plateau, Enugu, Benue, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Adamawa, Kogi, Anambra and Imo and FCT.
