…As international recognitions underscore project’s impact on Nigerians
Activation of Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs) in the country by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has enhanced the Federal Government’s drive to improve security of lives and property.
Besides, the NCC’s receipt of two international recognitions from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and the African Public Relations Association (APRA) in acknowledgment of the transformational role of the ECCs in providing succor to Nigerians who are in emergencies had attested to its roles in enhancing improved security in the country.
NCC’s Executive Vice-Chairman Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed this while receiving the IPRA Golden World Awards (GWA) 2020 on behalf of the commission.
Danbatta while receiving the twin awards from the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who had earlier accepted the awards on his behalf, expressed appreciation for the recognition by the two international organizations.
Danbatta said: “The IPRA Golden World Awards (GWA) 2020 won by the Commission and the APRA Certificate of Excellence to the Commission were for its harmonized emergency number 112 and the construction of ECCs across the country as well as for the efforts in leveraging the emergency communication centers for national security.”
“On behalf of the Board and Management of NCC, I count these recognitions as very important to the Commission as they underscore our collective efforts towards aligning our regulatory activities in enhancing the security situation in the country.”
Danbatta noted that at a time when the country was being faced with insecurity issues such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and many more life-threatening incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergency communications centers, established by NCC across the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had been central to saving lives.
For instance, with 19 ECC’s already established in 18 states of the federation and the FCT, Danbatta said the centers had played vital roles during emergencies as they facilitated response from emergency response agencies such as the Nigerian Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire and Ambulance Services, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and others by dialing 112 from any network.
He said: “The ECC has transformed lives and helped many in handling emergencies today. It is no doubt having positive impacts on lives, improving security and providing jobs for Nigerian youths and because of the recognition of the important role the ECC is playing in states where we have activated them, many states are asking us to come and activate their ECCs and serious work is ongoing in this regard, as we know that this important life-saving facility supports security architecture in the country.”
However, the ECCs were activated as a one-stop shop for receiving distress calls from the public and dispatching same to appropriate Emergency Response Agencies (ERAs) for timely response and resolution of the distress.
In recognition of the centrality of the ECC project to national security, Danbatta has also received Nigeria’s Goodwill Ambassador for Security and Emergency Management’ while the NCC as a corporate organization, was honoured with the ‘Corporate Social responsibility Award in Security and Emergency Management in the country’ at the Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA) 2020 where the NCC was also declared winner of ‘security and emergency management award.
