2027: INEC inaugurates logistics committee to tackle late delivery of materials

• Tasks agencies, transport unions on deployment by land, sea, air

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a multi-agency Election Logistics Committee (ELOC) to coordinate the movement of personnel and materials for the 2027 general elections and prevent delays that could disenfranchise voters.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced Rear Admiral Jamilu Saddiq Malafa as chairperson of the committee, charging members to develop a comprehensive plan for the storage, distribution, deployment and retrieval of election materials.

Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja, Amupitan said early preparation was essential to overcoming the transport, security and terrain challenges associated with conducting elections across the country.

“Today’s inauguration marks a proactive step in ensuring that the 2027 general election is defined by seamless execution and operational excellence,” he said.

The committee draws representatives from correctional, aviation, security, ports and customs agencies, the Central Bank of Nigeria, transport unions and maritime workers.

Participating organisations include the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.

Amupitan said the multi-agency approach would bring together the expertise needed to move personnel and materials across Nigeria’s varied terrain.

“In seeking to address the complexities of moving men and materials across the vast and varied terrain of Nigeria, the commission opted for a multi-agency approach,” he said.

“The inclusion of our security and logistics experts from various arms of service underscores our resolve to treat election logistics as a matter of national priority.”

He described logistics as one of the most critical and challenging components of election management, stressing that technology and procedural safeguards must be supported by polling units that opened on time with the required personnel and materials.

The committee, he said, would assess the total logistics requirements for the elections and audit the readiness of warehouses, vehicles and transport hubs, including airports and seaports.

It would identify gaps, recommend corrective measures, monitor compliance with approved plans and schedules, and address transport bottlenecks, shortages and security threats.

Members would also coordinate with INEC departments and state offices, formalise arrangements for secure transportation by road, air and maritime routes, and liaise with government agencies and transport unions to facilitate movement.

Amupitan directed the committee to submit periodic reports and recommendations to the commission, while ensuring that materials reached every part of the country on schedule.

He urged members to demonstrate dedication and develop plans capable of responding to changing weather, terrain and security conditions.

“Nigeria’s geography, from the creeks of the Niger Delta to the arid plains of the north, demands a logistic plan that is both flexible and resilient,” he said.

“We must anticipate the weather, the terrain, and the security environment to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials.”

Amupitan said the inauguration laid the foundation for efficient preparations and credible elections.

“By inaugurating this committee today, we are laying the foundation for a transparent, efficient, and credible election,” he said.