The federal Government has engaged the services of a Chinese firm to build toll-free emergency telephone lines through which Nigerians can make quick calls to security agencies.
The acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, disclosed this yesterday at the launch of the Police Cooperative Multipurpose society’s Communication Project, called CoopCom, where he said the emergency lines would enable Nigerians make toll-free calls in times of emergencies. CoopCom is a collaboration between the Nigeria Police and Globacom Plc.
Abubakar, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, in charge of communication, DIG Emmanuel Kachi Udoji said that the project would also help in the fight to end the menace of terrorism.
Fielding questions from journalists after the launch of the project, Udoji said, “There is a project going on in the police with a Chinese company. Arrangements are on to secure toll-free emergency lines. We are aware that in no distant time toll-free numbers will be provided for Nigerians”.
Udoji, who noted that providing emergency lines that would serve all Nigerians would involve enormous cost, stressed that the lines would enhance communication between members of the public and operatives of the police operatives.