The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA in Nigeria has launched the first phase of 160 Hytera Digital Radios.
The development will create better interface between its operational and tactical actors. It will also facilitate more effective communications among the Agency’s team of players.
The Hytera radios are world class next-generation technologies that help industries around the world to be more efficient, effective and agile in their operations.
Hytera emergency solutions also ensure secure, non-of-sight wireless link on-demand to enable front line responders to communicate with on-site command centers in complicated environment.
It also function’s flexibly as walkie talkies, android smart phones and command post devices at local theatres of operation and across unlimited distance in terms of range.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the Director General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed said, “This is the first phase, as we continue with other phases, you will get to know. The idea is to cover all our offices and from these one hundred and sixty, we will deploy to all our offices and as more as the items come, more of those radios will get to them and overtime, stakeholders are likely to also be plugged into this arrangement.”
Rapid Deployment
Ahmad explained that the radios would facilitate rapid deployment during emergencies through the digital wireless ad-hoc repeaters, also ensure easy command and control, which makes it extremely useful for on-site operations.
“The radios’ live video streams, audio communication and ability to send & receive texts as well as installed GPS for fast tracking and retrieval in the event of loss is an added leverage to the Agency. I strongly believe that the Hytera radios will bring greater visibility to NEMA activities across Nigeria, fast-track the mobility of workforces and facilitate better integration of the headquarters with the zonal, territorial and operational offices of the Agency. These would reduce response time and loss of lives and properties across the board,”. Ahmad stated.
Four Categories
According to the Director General, the acquired radios are in four categories.
“The Agency has acquired 4 categories of the radios: PNC370, PNC380, PNC550 and PDC550; to create better interface between its operational and tactical actors. The radios are multi-mode handheld devices, capable of working as two way radio on UHF frequencies (400-470MHz) or on cellular LTE. They are rugged, compact in design and IP68 rated. As military standard MIL-STS-810G, they are drop proof and suitable for use in even the harshest of environments. As military standard MIL-STS-810G, they are drop proof and suitable for use in even the harshest of environments. The radios will facilitate rapid deployment during emergencies through the digital wireless ad-hoc repeaters. The location display would also ensure easy command and control, which makes it extremely useful for on-site operations,” he explained.
NEMA, maintained that risk communication shapes people’s perceptions of risk and influences their actions with respect to disaster preparedness and response.
This imperative inform the recent decision to radicalise service delivery through new ways and manners between field commanders and the Agency headquarters elements in tandem with international best practices of incident command systems.
Confidence Okwuchi
