The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, says the Commission has activated its 112 toll-free Emergency Telephone Number at Emergency Communication Centres (ECCs).
The 112 toll-free line, established late 2019, is currently functional in 18 states.
Danbatta, who spoke at the Forum of Spokesperson of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) Meeting, on Thursday, in Abuja, listed the states as Katsina, Ogun, Kano, Plateau, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NCC boss added that efforts are ongoing to activate ECCs in the remaining states of the federation.
He said each of the ECC “is equipped with eleven workstations, six dispatch workstations for the Response Agencies, a server system that receives and processes 112-calls from members of the public. The server then dispatches the calls to the appropriate Agency that has responsibility to attend to the specific emergency, among other facilities.”
He commended the military and security agencies in Nigeria for their patriotic zeal in securing the nation and assured FOSSRA of full support in their attainment of its objectives.
In his remark, the Chairman of FOSSRA and Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Clement Onyema Nwachukwu, who highlighted military’s efforts in tackling armed banditry, terrorism and other criminal activities in Nigeria, commended NCC for the establishment of the distress call centres.
The Executive Secretary of the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd.), said: “We will give our unflinching support to the ECCs in our determination to contribute our modest quota in enhancing synergy and providing effective communication strategy to you, our major stakeholders.
“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,” Anas said.
