The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would acquire toll-free emergency numbers and create call centre in the first quarter of 2012 for contacts by people in distress to call for necessary assistance from response agencies.

Director General NEMA Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a report submitted by Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM) in his office today. He said the new number which is toll free will be unveiled early next year to avail the opportunities of assistance under distress situations.

He said the NEMA call centres were being upgraded as centre points for transfer of distress signals to the relevant organs for the necessary actions in providing assistance to save lives and property.
Alhaji Sani-Sidi said NEMA was determined to utilize all available technology and resources for efficient and effective disaster management in the country. He solicited continued cooperation and supports of the stakeholders.

The NEMA boss thanked the MICEM members for partnering with NEMA and promised to consider the reports for implementation within the confines of the mandates of the agency.

Earlier, the Chairman of MICEM and Director of Defence Information, Colonel Muhammad Yerima said the committee after painstakingly studied, reviewed and critiqued on the structure and overall NEMA intervention framework, submit some new initiatives to guide in disaster management in the country.

Some of the recommendations include awards for commitment to disaster management in the country, establishment of more zonal offices by NEMA to cover more states, creation of a Centre for Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEM), activation of Call centre for emergency calls and strengthening volunteer groups of emergency throughout the federation.

Members of the committee include, Charles Akpabio of Federal Road Safety Comission (Deputy Chairman), Yushau A. Shuaib of National Emergency Management Agency (Secretary)Emma Inyang, Nigeria Police Force; Emma Oke, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps; Mr. Seyi Soromi , UNESCO; Mr. Nwankpa, Nigeria Red Cross; Engr. Olisa Machie, Federal Fire Service and Umar Kari, University of Abuja.