Revealed! With 49.7% internet coverage, Nigeria lacks capacity for eTransmission of election results - ITREALMS

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has revealed that estimated 49.7 per cent of the national spread lacks internet coverage which will be required for real-time electronic transmission of electoral results, reports ITREALMS.

NCC officials made this disclosure while at the House of Representatives’ Public Hearing over Electronic Transmission of Election Results in the country.

ITREALMS gathered that the NCC team led by the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, NCC, Engr. Ubale Maska and the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu was on summoned to appear before the House on Friday, July 16, 2021 over the suitability of the use of electronic devices for the transmission of election results in the country as part of ongoing discussion as being provided in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

According to Engr. Maska, who spoke on behalf of the team, less than 50 per cent of the country enjoys 3G Internet coverage for which electronic transmission of results could rely on.

He also said, as at 2018, when the Commission carried out a survey of 109,000 polling units, of the country’s 119,000 polling units were covered.

The Commissioner also said the surveyed polling unit areas were covered mostly by the 3G and 2G networks, which represents about 50.3 per cent of the entire country.

Responding to question on 2G technology could be used for electronic transmission of results, Engr. Maska said though he wished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was around to answer, however, only 3G could transmit results effectively.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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