2011: Laptops, Others to Cost Inec N18Bn

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) will spend only N18 billion instead of N54.9 billion allocated for the ICT-Voter Registration System and solution in the commission’s budget, but it must stick to prudence, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
ICT-Voter Registration System and solution is the largest purchase item in the budget for the 2011 elections but were found to be cheaper if sourced directly and from experienced solution providers.
The sum is for the software and the hardware as well as the integration of these technologies.
The major component of the ICT-Voter Registration System and solution is the Direct Data Capture Machines (DDCMs) that will be used for registering voters and conducting the elections.
Unless otherwise stated by Inec, a typical DDCM (Inec wants a total of 120,000) is made up of a laptop, finger print reader, and a web camera of 3 to 5 mega pixel, a backup power pack and an integrated printer.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations showed that a laptop with the configuration suitable to carry out the processing of information from the web cam and finger print reader cost N85, 000 and 120,000 pieces of it would amount to N10.2 billion.
A biometric finger print machine required for the same function costs N25, 000 each, meaning that the commission will spend N3 billion for 120,000 pieces, while a web cam of 3 to 5 mega pixel costs N8, 000 each, 120,000 of it will cost N960 million. More so, the machine requires a printer to print out registration slip which comes at the cost of N26, 000 each and for the 120,000 it amounts to N3.1 billion. There is also a provision for power back-up with uninterrupted power system at cost of N720 million for the 120, 000.
However, this figure does not include the cost of integrating the different hardware into one machine.
The integration will enable the laptop read and interpret information from both finger print reader and web camera.
But a standard system built with all the features would cost even less at around N115, 000 each.
Apart from N54.9 billion for ICT-Voter Registration System and solution; other items in the Inec’s  N88 billion budget for the 2011 election are: 150,000 units of Transparent Collapsible Boxes allocated N3 billion and Utility Vehicles that will gulp N4 billion.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek also gathered that the  review of voters register, was allocated N5.44 billion, logistics requirement for 2011 elections; N2 billion, voter registry requirement for 2011 election; N268.2 million, operation requirement for 2011 elections N470 million, finance and accounts for 2011 elections N1.246 billion, year 2010 bye-elections N700 million, servicom/R C S and GD N155million, electoral hazard allowance N64million and hotel accommodation for political appointees N222.8million.
Analysts said that the election year could have afforded the government the opportunity to rebuild local IT assembly line battered by years of policies somersaults and mismanagement.
Local companies also agree that the electoral commission can save huge sums of
money by looking inwards.
Ahmed Rufai, managing director, Nigerian communications satellite (NigComSat) Ltd said that “With our proposal, each voter’s card would have an in-built smart card which would hold all the information required for registration and voting.
 “The machines they want to import are nothing more than metal boxes. Instead of sending out all that money to develop other economies, why not explore local solutions that can offer the same or better value?” Rufai added that aside initial meetings, there has been no further contact from the commission.
 “We are working with a consortium of local hardware manufacturers. We made our proposal over two weeks ago and the chairman vowed to come and visit our premises. So far, that has not happened.”