>
By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
To bolster the capacity of emergency response agencies in handling emergency call services through the Emergency Communication Centres (ECC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has deployed Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) solution in seven states.
This is coming on the heels of the commission’s recent activation of the Taraba State ECC, bringing the total number of operational ECCs across the country to 25.
Taraba ECC joins the existing operational ECCs in 23 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These 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.
The commission deployed the CAD system to the commands of six response agencies including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), States Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as in Ambulance and Fire Service operations in seven states.
The seven states that have benefitted 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.
Recently, the commission carried out the successful trial calls to test the effective implementation of the supply, installation and integration of the CAD system for Ambulance Service in Abuja, for the recently-launched National Emergency Medical Services & Ambulance Systems (NEMSAS) of the Federal Ministry of Health.
Speaking on the CAD deployment, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, said the commission will 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.
“Over 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). This intervention has had very positive impact on the lives of Nigerians,” Danbatta said.
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’s System.
The Nigerian Communications Commission established the EEC project in 2005 in deference to Federal Executive Council directive. The Commission 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 NCC Act 2003.