Ahead of the 2019 general election, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) says it has budgeted N85 billion for logistics during
the election.Disclosing this when she spoke at a round table discussion
between the Commission and the NURTW, RTEAN and NARTO, in Abuja, on
Wednesday, INEC’s Head of Health and Welfare, Amina Zakari, said it will
cost the Commission at least N10 billion, on logistics, to conduct a
single election.“We have earmarked N85 billion on logistics for the 2019
general elections. For a two-day election, which is the least number of
days to conduct election, it cost about N10 billion on logistics. You
can imagine what would be involved if we had to conduct the elections in
more than one day; like the presidential separately, National Assembly
and even the cost of conducting five elections separately.“These costs
exclude leasing of boats in riverine areas, additional gunboats for
security, hiring helicopter for other areas affected by insurgency and
difficult terrains.“Moving of personnel and materials in those areas is
very challenging and these must be done at the same time, nationwide. It
is worst because about two-thirds of the country’s territory is covered
by difficult terrain'' she saidSpeaking further, Zakara said ''The
window for the deployment of electoral materials is too short,
especially as it must be delivered between 5.00am to 8.00am. You can
imagine the enormity of the task, considering the size of the country,
difficult terrain and poor road network where the elections have to be
conducted.“We are not even considering the supplementary elections that
may come up, the runoff elections and the possible suspension of areas
where violence may disrupt the poll; which we normally suspend and
reschedule.“The logistics cost is really enormous and it will be good
for the country to find a more cost-efficient manner elections can be
conducted''.2019 elections: INEC budgets N85bn on Logistics
Ahead of the 2019 general election, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) says it has budgeted N85 billion for logistics during
the election.Disclosing this when she spoke at a round table discussion
between the Commission and the NURTW, RTEAN and NARTO, in Abuja, on
Wednesday, INEC’s Head of Health and Welfare, Amina Zakari, said it will
cost the Commission at least N10 billion, on logistics, to conduct a
single election.“We have earmarked N85 billion on logistics for the 2019
general elections. For a two-day election, which is the least number of
days to conduct election, it cost about N10 billion on logistics. You
can imagine what would be involved if we had to conduct the elections in
more than one day; like the presidential separately, National Assembly
and even the cost of conducting five elections separately.“These costs
exclude leasing of boats in riverine areas, additional gunboats for
security, hiring helicopter for other areas affected by insurgency and
difficult terrains.“Moving of personnel and materials in those areas is
very challenging and these must be done at the same time, nationwide. It
is worst because about two-thirds of the country’s territory is covered
by difficult terrain'' she saidSpeaking further, Zakara said ''The
window for the deployment of electoral materials is too short,
especially as it must be delivered between 5.00am to 8.00am. You can
imagine the enormity of the task, considering the size of the country,
difficult terrain and poor road network where the elections have to be
conducted.“We are not even considering the supplementary elections that
may come up, the runoff elections and the possible suspension of areas
where violence may disrupt the poll; which we normally suspend and
reschedule.“The logistics cost is really enormous and it will be good
for the country to find a more cost-efficient manner elections can be
conducted''.
