The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disclosed that its Nigeria Mission Control Centre (NIMCC) received a total of 151 false emergency satellite beacon alerts across the country in 2024.
NIMCC expressed concern that none of the alerts received last year were genuine, describing it as an unfortunate trend that wastes manpower and logistics committed by emergency response agencies to trace the alerts.
The Director of Search and Rescue Department at NEMA, Air Commodore Kenneth Oyong, made the remarks on Wednesday in Enugu during a Sensitisation and Awareness Campaign/Training for COSPAS-SARSAT Beacon Users in Nigeria.
Represented by the South-East Zonal Director of NEMA, Mr. Wilson Brandon, Oyong stressed the need for more responsible usage of beacon devices.
He acknowledged the support of the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, for approving the training, saying her leadership continues to inspire the agency’s efforts in improving search and rescue operations.
According to him, “The Director General of NEMA’s visionary leadership and unwavering support for enhancement of our capabilities in the Search and Rescue Department in NEMA has been a source of inspiration to us all.”
He added, “As we gather here today, I want to emphasise the critical importance of safety at sea, in the air, and on land.
“The COSPAS-SARSAT (Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking) system is a vital component of our national safety infrastructure, providing distress alert services to those in need.
“However, the effectiveness of this system relies on the proper use and understanding of COSPAS-SARSAT beacons by users.
“This is why we are here today to sensitise beacon users on the proper deployment, operation and maintenance of these life-saving devices. Our campaign aims to reach all beacon users in Nigeria, including maritime, aviation and land-based users.”
The director further stated that the training would cover key areas such as: “The Overview of COSPAS-SARSAT System”; “The Importance of COSPAS-SARSAT Beacons in Emergency Situations”; and “Proper Installation, Testing, and Maintenance of Beacons.”
He added that other training topics include: “Understanding False Alerts and How to Prevent Them” and “Best Practices for Beacon Use and Emergency Procedures.”
The Head of the Mission Control Centre, Commander Ademola Oriyomi, emphasized the objective of encouraging stakeholders to use beacon technology responsibly.
Oriyomi stated that promoting responsible and effective use of the devices would significantly improve national search and rescue efforts.
“We want to ensure that NEMA carries all stakeholders using beacon technology along and achieve zero-false beacon alerts/calls moving ahead,” he said.
He noted that beacon technology experts would present on various relevant topics and that an interactive session would follow to foster collaboration among participants and NEMA-NIMCC officials.
During the training, Mr. Salami Abdullahi delivered a lecture titled: “Prevalence of False Alerts in Nigeria and its Implications,” while Mr. A.O. Ayorinde spoke on: “Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Beacon Handling, Maintenance and Coding Method,” among others.
Participants at the training were drawn from key agencies, including the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), the Nigerian Air Force, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, officials of private and commercial airlines, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), among others.
The training is themed: “Keeping Abreast with Emerging Technology.”
