NCC to tackle insecurity with activation of 17 ECCs

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has restated its commitment to operationalise Emergency Communications Centres (ECCs) in all the 36 states of the federation to complement state governments’ efforts at enhancing the security of lives and property of the citizenry.

At the moment, the commission has activated 19 ECCs in 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, leaving a remainder of 17 states. The beneficiary states include Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Plateau, Enugu, Benue, Akwa-Ibom, Cross-River, Oyo, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Adamawa, Kogi, Anambra and Imo States and FCT.

Speaking at the commissioning of the ECC in Owerri, Imo State over the weekend by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Danbatta said: “We do not doubt that, if put to maximum use, and kept functional at all times, the ECC facilities will serve to complement the State Government’s efforts at enhancing the security of lives and property of citizens.”

The EVC says the ECC project, equipped with necessary Information Technology (IT) tools and personnel is a one-stop-shop through which members of the public can access help from any response agency, stating that the centre is essentially aimed at enhancing the security of lives and property of the citizens.

He listed the response agencies to include the Nigeria Police (NPF), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Fire and Ambulance Services, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and all its affiliate State Emergency Management Agencies, among others.

On the role, the ECCs played in assisting members of the public during the total lockdown occasioned by COVID-19, Danbatta said over 1,500 COVID-19-related calls were received and processed through the ECCs in the peak of the pandemic in Nigeria

“During the total lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ECCs played a remarkable role by providing a platform for members of the public to seek lifesaving information or support and reporting COVID-19 related cases by dialling ‘112’ from any of the networks. I am happy to report to you that over 1,500 COVID-19-related calls were received and processed by the ECCs in the peak of the pandemic,” he said.