NSCDC officer develops ‘EkitiAlert’ mobile phone app for emergencies

AN operative of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in its Ekiti State Command, Mr Adeoluwa Oyebode, has developed a mobile application to alert the corps in the case of emergency.

The mobile app which Oyebode named “EkitiAlert”, has been submitted to the Commandant of the NSCDC in Ekiti State for the use of the corps in its operations.

Speaking on the innovation, Oyebode said: “EkitiAlert is an emergency security phone app developed to bring crime rate in Ekiti State to the lowest ebb, the sequel to the modern definition of security as a function of response time to crimes.” The app, he explained “is a call directory of NSCDC Ekiti State Command formations across the state on a dial.”

Adeola, who presented the app to the Ekiti State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr Donatus Izuka Ikemefuna, for onward transformation to the national headquarters of the service.

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According to him, he had observed that “one of the major challenges of security is lack of timely information/intelligence prior or during criminal activities.”

He said: “The app is therefore designed to provide an opportunity for the general public to reach the Corps in Ekiti State (on her Core Mandates) on a one-button dial, across the 16 Divisional Formations, 3 Area Commands, all the outposts in the 132towns and villages.

“The Arms Squad, Critical National Infrastructures and Assets, the Anti-vandal Unit, Counter-terrorism Unit, the Agro-Rangers Unit, the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit, the Private Guard Monitoring Unit, and the Public Relations Officer at a calculated response time of five minutes.”

According to Oyebode, this App (EkitiAlert) “is available on PlayStore for download, while much publicity shall be made on all available platforms (most especially social media) so that it can be widely accepted for use.”

Oyebode acknowledged that the app, upon its submission, had become the property of the NSCDC officially, and added that he had also submitted “alongside all registered SIMs for this same purpose.”

He said the submission of the app was the first phase of the project, pointing out that “effort shall begin in earnest to secure toll-free lines (Phase II) so that callers will be encouraged by not having to pay for reporting crimes or security emergencies as they happen.”

He said the third phase shall provide the caller location per call, using the Google Maps and GPS.

He described the innovation as “a new dawn in the security architecture of the Nigerian state which I hope will encourage other officers, paramilitaries, the police, and the general public to develop a special interest in the security of the nation beyond their take homes.”

He thanked the NSCDC for the opportunity and his colleagues he said had helped him in the quest to develop the innovative application and called on other Nigerians in the business of providing security In Nigeria to look inwards and find ways of making the job easier.