To strengthen existing emergency alerts system, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has began installation of modern equipment at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under a partnership to further increase efficiency in response to emergency situations in the country.

The new equipment, which is based on the latest technology in Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) would upgrade the COSPAS-SARSAT facility in Nigerian Mission Control Centre operated by NEMA in Abuja for precision in identifying location of distress alerts from carrier of 405MHz beacons and enable efficient emergency responses.

Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, at a meeting in Abuja with Acting Managing Director of NAMA, Mr. Emmanuel Onyemaechi Anasi, expressed delight that the partnership between the two agencies have continued to yield positive impacts in improving on air safety and emergency management in the country.

In his remark, the Acting Managing Director of NAMA said the new equipment, which is in-built with automated message handling system, when activated would enable the operators in NEMA to interface directly with airports in Nigeria in tracking alerts from distressed airplane with precision on location for rescue. He said under the partnership, NAMA and the contractors handling the installation would also provide basic training for the operators in NEMA.

The Nigerian Mission Control Centre located in the headquarters of NEMA is a computer based satellite technology that uses the COSPAS-SARSAT hi-tech facility. It is design to assist in Search and Rescue, using space-tech and ground facilities to detect and locate signals of a distress beacons operating on 406 MHz in aircrafts or ship.

•Photo shows NEMA DGSani Sidi.

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