KANO, NIGERIA — The Kano State Government has awarded a multi-million-naira contract for the construction of an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) to strengthen the coordination of emergency response activities and improve the management of critical information during disasters.
The centre, which is being constructed at the Government House, is expected to serve as a central command hub for coordinating responses to emergencies across the state’s 44 local government areas.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Isyaku Kubarachi, disclosed the development in an interview, saying construction work had already commenced.
Kubarachi said the facility would address major challenges associated with collecting, gathering and analysing information during emergencies, enabling authorities to make faster and more informed decisions aimed at protecting lives and property.
“A contract has been awarded for the construction of an emergency operation centre and work has already commenced,” Kubarachi said.
He explained that the EOC would bring relevant government agencies and emergency response organisations together under a unified structure, allowing them to coordinate their activities more effectively when disasters occur.
According to him, the facility would also enable authorities to develop a clearer understanding of emergency situations across Kano State by collecting and analysing data from the 44 local government areas.
Kubarachi described the planned facility as only the second Emergency Operation Centre of its kind in Nigeria, apart from the existing centre in Lagos State.
He said the Kano centre would play a crucial role in tracking emergencies and deploying the supplies, equipment and personnel required at affected locations.
“Lagos is the only state in the country that has an EOC and Kano will have a similar facility for tracking and sending needed supplies, equipment and workers to the field during emergencies,” he said.
The SEMA chief added that the centre would reduce the need for the state governor to personally travel to disaster locations before receiving information about unfolding situations.
Instead, situation reports would be transmitted to the centre, allowing relevant authorities to assess developments and initiate immediate responses based on available information.
“The governor doesn’t have to visit the place where such disasters happened because situation reports will be coming for immediate response,” Kubarachi said.
The centre is expected to serve as a strategic command point during major emergencies and critical crises, providing authorities with a coordinated system for managing resources and responding to disasters.
Kubarachi said the facility would provide strategic coordination, resource support and information management, all of which are considered essential components of an effective emergency management system.
He further disclosed that the centre would be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to enhance its operations. Personnel would also be recruited and trained to manage the facility and operate the systems required for effective emergency coordination.
The planned EOC comes as Kano seeks to strengthen its capacity to respond to emergencies across its large and densely populated territory. With 44 local government areas, the state faces the challenge of coordinating emergency operations across a wide geographical area.
Kubarachi also revealed that the state government has plans to establish similar centres across the three senatorial zones of Kano State.
The proposed expansion would bring emergency coordination infrastructure closer to communities and potentially improve the speed at which information, personnel and resources can be mobilised during crises.
The development represents a shift toward a more centralised and data-driven approach to emergency management, where information gathered from different locations can be analysed to guide decisions and resource deployment.
When completed and fully operational, the Kano EOC is expected to strengthen collaboration among emergency agencies and improve communication during disasters. It could also provide authorities with a clearer picture of unfolding emergencies, enabling them to prioritise affected areas and direct resources where they are most urgently needed.
For Kano residents, the planned facility is expected to provide an important layer of protection by improving the state’s preparedness and response capabilities.
With construction already underway and plans for additional centres across the senatorial zones, the state government is positioning emergency coordination as a key component of its disaster management strategy.
The project is ultimately aimed at ensuring that when emergencies occur, authorities have the information, personnel, equipment and coordination mechanisms required to respond quickly and protect lives and property.
