About 40 million of the 73.5 million registered Nigerian voters during the 2011 general election would be issued with permanent biometric chip-based voters’ cards before the end the year while the remaining 33.5 million would be given out in 2013.

The move is part of the strategic plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to tackle all kinds of irregularities that Nigeria is famous for when it comes to conducting elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, disclosed this in an interview at a two-day INEC 2012 Strategic Plan Retreat, which began in Lagos yesterday.

Jega, who described the initiative as ‘unique and first of its kind in Nigeria’ said already, the contract for the production of the biometric chip-based voters’ card had been awarded by the commission.

The chairman added that the scheme would bring more efficiency and credibility into the conduct of elections in the country.

He said: “With regards to the permanent voters’ register, we are working assiduously on this. If you are aware, when we did the registration of voters in January and February 2011, we registered about 73.5 million voters. We intend to produce permanent voters’ cards for all registered individuals and we would ensure that everybody registered gets a permanent voters’ card.

“We have already given out the contract as I speak with you, and we hope that before the end of this year, we will commence the distribution of the permanent voters’ cards for about 40 million registered voters. By next year, we hope to be able to complete the production of the rest of the permanent voters’ card.”

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