Emergency agency linked to satellite search and rescue system

Nigeria has established a satellite-linked mission control centre to facilitate humanitarian search and rescue operations, officials said on Wednesday. The centre will be managed by Nigeria's national Emergency Management Center (NEMA), director Salisu Makarfi told reporters. The centre is linked to Cospas-Sarsat, a system of satellites, ground stations and control centres devoted to humanitarian rescue operations. The system, which is run by the United States, France and Russia, is especially useful for detecting ships, aircraft and individuals in times of emergency, he said. Signals sent by ships, aircraft or individuals carrying emergency beacons are sent to satellites which in turn relay them to ground stations. There the signals are urgently analysed, the distance and location of the object is determined and the information sent to the nearest mission control centre to arrange a rescue. Nigeria’s Vice President Atiku Abubakar and chairman of NEMA governing council, in a congratulatory message, described the setting up of the mission control centre as a evidence of the government’s move “from post-disaster intervention to proactive activities”. Makarfi said to further improve NEMA’s responsiveness, the agency has also began acquiring helicopters for use in its operations. While Nigeria has been more prone to natural disasters such as floods, rainstorms and major fires, it has also recorded a number of aviation accidents and incidents in which ships had foundered and gone missing in its territorial waters.