News
NCC’s Emergency Communication Centres: Providing job opportunities for Nigerian youths
The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, said, it has created job opportunities for the teeming Nigerian Youths over the implementation of Emergency Communications Centres, ECC, across the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Public Affairs of the Commission, Mr. Reuben Muoka and made available to CAPITAL POST on Monday, he said, the emergency call centres have been constructed equipped and are fully operational, noting that a total of 27 States out of 36 States are reachable on Toll-Free Number 112.
The statement reads: “Beyond providing essential emergency response services to the Nigerian public, the Emergency Communications Centres (ECC), being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) now provide employment placements for many Nigerian youth and professionals, as well as offering informal business activities to the citizens across the Country.
“The ECC’s, which have been constructed and are now fully operational in a total of 27 State Capitals across the country, are reachable on Toll-Free Number 112, and are operating in similar design like the 911 Emergency Numbers in some developed parts of the world, to provide succor to individuals, who are witnesses or under distress of emergency, arising from fire outbreaks, robbery or violent attacks, domestic and road accidents, health crisis, to instantly reach response agencies through the toll-free three (3) digit numbers, 112.
“Four more centres are currently undergoing test-runs to commence services in September 2023, to bring the total to 31, while another set of four are expected to come into operations before the end of the year.
“The Commission provided technology platforms such as Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems for the respective response agencies such as police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ambulance Service, and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) to facilitate the dispatch of emergency calls through the national emergency toll-free number 112.
“The three-digit code was designed to ensure that citizens in emergency situations can easily recall the three-digit code, 112, to report emergency situations.
“Agents of the ECCs, have been trained, and equipped with state-of-the-art communications equipment, including digital radio and Internet-protocol (IP) and geo-location technologies to enable responders to easily identify location of incidents for effective and efficient delivery of rescue services to the public.
“Emergency Centre services in Nigeria are available, live, 24 hours of the day as the agents run in shifts to ensure that services are delivered at all times of the day.
“The response agencies, such as the Police with round-the-clock duties to prevent, stop and arrest crimes, are now being provided with additional mobile communications devices, some installed in their offices, to enable them to instantly receive information from call agents at the centres. This is to also ensure that top echelon of the force are provided instant information for command and control over emergency situations or incidents across the country.
“As the ECCs assume more crucial roles in providing emergency communications services to the citizenry, it is also providing additional socio-economic responsibility of providing job opportunities to the citizens as each of the centres have staffs made up of Call agents, Facility/IT Staff, and Administrators. The basic salaries of the staff of ECCs, have been carefully set by the Commission, to ensure that the jobs at the centres are attractive for the Nigerian youths, and other category of employees.
“In effect, more than 1,200 are currently offered employment at the 27 operational centres across the country, while more will be employed as the additional 8 centres under different stages of completion become fully operational by 2024.
“The Centres are also managed by indigenous Nigerian consultants who are engaged to provide total facility and operational management of the centres.”
The Plateau state government has expressed concern over violence in Shimankar (Menkaat), Shendam Local Government Area, of the State which unfortunately caused unnecessary tension within the community.
In a statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon Joyce Lohya Ramnap, made available to journalists in Jos, it condemned in strongest terms and warned such violence would not be tolerated any longer.
The statement called for dialogue to differences and disagreement before it snowballed into violence, adding that government will not allow anyone to undermine peace and unity of the State.
Part of the statement read: “I want to reiterate the Plateau State Government’s unwavering commitment to upholding peace and security for all citizens, especially during such tense moments.”
Acknowledging the swift response of law enforcement agencies and the traditional institutions in containing the situation, we are calling for even greater collaboration between community leaders, security agencies, and the public to prevent further escalation,thus the need to maintain peace, calm and restraint from all parties.
“We urge the people of the community to pursue peaceful resolutions to any disagreements instead of resorting to violence.”
In line with the administration’s “Time is Now” vision under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang, I want to emphasise that the state is focused on ensuring lasting peace and harmony, irrespective of religious or tribal differences.
Government is also assuring the public that security agencies have been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of the skirmishes and to ensure that those responsible for any breach of public peace are held accountable.
Towards this end, Plateau citizens are to remain vigilant yet peaceful and to actively support all efforts to de-escalate the situation as the State Government is committed to fostering a peaceful coexistence for all citizens, the statement further reads.
As protest rocks Benue State against the Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpembese for relocating the Benue Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal from Makurdi to Abuja, Governor Hyacinth Alia has distanced himself from the protest.
Protesters in their hundreds from Benue State took to the streets of Abuja on Monday, for a peaceful protest from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court to express their outrage over the Benue CJ’s decision.
Prior to Monday’s massive protest Justice Ikpembese raised security concerns and moved the Tribunal to Abuja, a development that triggered protest as they are saying the Tribunal would have remained in Makurdi for them to monitor proceedings.
The tribunal is currently handling disputes arising from the Benue State Local Government elections conducted on October 5, 2024.
Reports indicate that 93 petitioners, including aggrieved candidates from both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, have filed cases at the tribunal since October 17, 2024.
The Benue State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, had questioned the CJ’s unilateral decision, noting that neither the governor nor his office had been formally notified.
News
Shehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
Civil Rights Activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has debunked the former Governor, Malamn Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that Governor Uba Sani has diverted the Local Government Councils allocation to buy properties abroad.
Shehu Sani said El-Rufai’s allegation is “falsely crafted to smear the name of of the Governor because of the N420 billion investigation hanging on him like the sword of damocles.”
Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Shehu Sani challenged the former Governor to release proofs of purchases of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London by Uba Sani publicly.
He said, Kaduna people would not forget in a hurry how Nasir El-Rufai plundered the State in eight years as Governor of the State, stressing that he should stop pushing falsehood into the public space.
He said: “As Kaduna indigenes, we are all living witnesses to how El-Rufai plundered the State and now investigation has indicted him and he should face it rather than pushing falsehood into the public domain.
El-Rufai should be bold enough to show proofs linking governor Uba Sani in the purchase of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London, then we will take him serious.
“But he should be ready answer for the whereabouts of N420 billion because that money is substantial enough to develop Kaduna State to an extent”, Shehu Sani maintained.
-
News23 hours agoBill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate
-
Security6 days agoNigerian Coast Guard: Citizens warned against extortion as passage of bill is being awaited
-
Entertainment1 week agoActor Baba Tee apologises to Ijoba Lande for having sex with his wife
-
Foreign1 week agoNorth Korea: A country not like others with 15 strange things that only exist
-
Politics6 days agoRetired military officer, colonel Gbenga Adegbola, joins APC with 13,000 supporters
-
Politics5 days agoCPDPL accuses Adeyanju of orchestrating smear campaign against FCT Minister Wike
-
News22 hours agoShehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence
-
Features1 week agoBruno Fernandes: Mikel Arteta credits ‘smart’ Man Utd captain for free-kick as Gary Neville says wall ‘too far back’