*The Nigerian telecoms sector regulator assures consumers the Commission will continue to modernise the Emergency Communications Centres for efficiency and effectiveness to respond appropriately to dynamics of emergency cases in line with the NCC鈥檚 objective of enhancing security of lives and property in the West African country

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In continuation of its vision and strategy to ensure promptness, effectiveness and efficiency in the handling of emergency call services through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on the deployment of Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) solution.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission said boosting the capacity of emergency response agencies was coming on the heels of NCC鈥檚 recent activation of the Taraba State ECC, thus bringing the total number of operational ECCs across the country to 25.

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绿帽献妻 reports the Taraba ECC has joined the existing operational ECCs in 23 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

NCC commissioning聽 an NCSAM Centre聽 聽File Photo

Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Tuesday, March 15, 2022, stated that the ECCs are located in the FCT, Adamawa, Imo, Enugu, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Plateau, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Ekiti, Cross River and Edo. Others are Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Bauchi, Osun, Zamfara, Kebbi and Gombe States.

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Adinde also noted in order to further modernise the centres, the NCC initiated the deployment of CAD for the response agencies in the West African country.

He stated that the Commission has deployed the CAD system to the Commands of six response agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), as well as in Ambulance and Fire Service operations in seven states in Nigeria.

The Commission as well stated that the seven states that had benefited from the deployment of the CAD equipment to transform and upgrade their ECCs into an Internet protocol-based facility are Ogun, Cross River, Enugu, Kwara, Kano, Adamawa and FCT.聽 The Commission plans to upgrade the remaining operational ECCs soon, said the NCC Director of Public Affairs.

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The Commission further said that it carried out the successful trial calls March 9, 2022, to test the effective implementation of the supply, installation and integration of the CAD system for Ambulance Service in Abuja, FCT, for the recently-launched National Emergency Medical Services & Ambulance Systems (NEMSAS) of the Federal Ministry of Health.

In a remark on the CAD deployment, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NCC, said the Commission would聽 continue to modernise the ECCs from time to time to keep it effective and to respond appropriately to the dynamics of emergency cases, in keeping with its objective of enhancing security of lives and property in the country.

Prof. Danbatta said: 鈥淥ver the years, the Centres have been transforming lives and helping many citizens to survive emergencies and other life-threatening circumstances through instant dispatch of emergency calls received to Emergency Response Agencies (ERA).

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鈥淭his intervention has had very positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.鈥�

The CAD is an automated dispatch software solution deployed for the seamless transmission of calls from the ECC to the relevant ERAs via the click of a button on the Call Agent鈥檚 System.

Recall the Nigerian Communications Commission established the EEC project, in 2005, in deference to Federal Executive Council鈥檚 (FEC) directive.

The NCC has also taken the establishment and effective operations of the Centres across the country as a matter of priority in keeping with Sections 107 (3) A and B, of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCA) 2003, added Adinde.