Nigerian navy offers tight security in riverine towns during election

The Nigerian navy will provide adequate security for electoral materials meant for use in riverine towns during the general election starting next month in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, an official said Tuesday.

However, this offer will be made possible only if Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) make a formal request for deployment of troops in those communities, Henry Babalola, Flag Officer Commanding of the Nigerian Eastern Naval Command, said.

"We will standby to assist INEC to provide security to transport electoral materials to riverine areas when we are called upon. We will standby to create an enabling environment that will allow voters to lawfully and legally come out to cast their votes, " the official said.

According to him, the navy has planned to deploy one helicopter to join the naval flying unit in the riverine towns of Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil hub and capital of the southern state of Rivers. Patrol boats will also be provided to ward-off ships bearing arms for the militants, he added.

"It is a trying moment for our nation, and the idea is that at the end of the day, we will be on top of the game to create a conducive atmosphere for the election to take place," said the navy commander.

Last Saturday, authorities in Nigeria announced postponement of the general election, citing security reasons.

The country's electoral chief Attahiru Jega said the presidential and national assembly elections are postponed to March 28, and the governorship and state congress elections to April 11. These elections were previously slated for Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 respectively.

Jega told journalists that the new development bordered on the security situation in Nigeria, noting it was, however, outside the purview of the electoral body. Endi