As a mark of its focus on the strategy of ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in handling emergency call services via its nationwide Emergency Communication Centres (ECC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has embarked on deployment of Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) solution even as the ECC operational centres increased now to twenty five (25)

The increase in capacity of emergency response agencies followed the Commission’s recent activation of the Taraba State ECC. The Taraba ECC joined existing operational ECCs in 23 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Other 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.

To further modernize the centres, the NCC initiated the deployment of CAD in the response agencies. 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), States Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), as well as in Ambulance and Fire Service operations in seven states.

The seven states that have benefitted from deployment of CAD equipment to transform and upgrade their ECCs to an Internet protocol-based facility are Ogun, Cross River, Enugu, Kwara, Kano, Adamawa and FCT. The Commission plans to upgrade the remaining operational ECCs soon.

In his remark on the CAD deployment, the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta said the Commission would continue to modernize ECCs often to keep it effective and to respond appropriately to the dynamics of emergency cases while keeping in focus 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.
CAD is an automated dispatch software solution deployed for the seamless transmission of calls from the ECC to 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 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCA) 2003.