The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has said only about 50 per cent of polling units in Nigeria have the needed network coverage for the transmission of election results electronically.
A representative of the Commission, Adeleke Adewolu, discslosed this on Friday while briefing the House of Representatives on the country’s network coverage.
On Thursday, the House decided to invite officials of the Commission before it adjourned sitting till Friday, to continue the discussion on the contentious transmission of election results, provided in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Umar Danbatta, was unable to attend the session because he was in Lagos for an official assignment.
Adewolu, however, told the House that about 50 per cent of the polling units in Nigeria have 3G coverage for electronic transmission of results.
While answering question from Hon. Akeem Adeyemi (APC, Oyo), on nationwide service coverage, the Commissioner, Technical Services of NCC, Ubale Maska, said the Commsssion conducted a system coverage survey in 2018.
According to Maska, the survey conducted showed that about 50 per cent of the polling units had 3G and 2G network services while 49 percent had 2G network and below.
He added that only 3G is needed to transmit result electronically.
When asked if the system is free from being hacked, Maska said “it is possible to hack it.”
He said there is no system that is 100% free from hacking, adding that even the US election in 2016 was allegedly hacked.
