100,000 vehicles, 4,200 boats needed for 2023 elections – INEC

“Let me assure Nigerians that we are determined that all polling units nationwide will open at 8.30 am on Saturday, 25th February 2023 for the presidential and national assembly elections and on Saturday, 11th March 2023 for the governorship and state house of assembly elections.

“To ensure that personnel and materials will be at the polling units on election day awaiting the arrival of voters rather than the other way round, INEC requires large numbers of vehicles, including motorcycles, tricycles, boats, and canoes in the riverine areas which cannot be met from its internal resources.”

The INEC boss added that the movement of all vehicles and boats would be electronically tracked to ensure that personnel and materials are not hijacked or diverted, The Punch reports.

“The security agencies shall not only be available to escort all vehicles and boats to locations, but they will also ensure the safety and protection of all election personnel and materials. As usual, we shall track the movement of all vehicles and boats electronically and in real-time to ensure that election personnel and materials are not hijacked or diverted,” Yakubu said.

In their reactions, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Tajudeen Baruwa; the President, of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Yusuf Othman and the President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adeyanju Adewale assured INEC that they would maintain neutrality throughout the election period.