The time allocated for the registration of voters (in Nigeria)  is supposed to end this weekend. If it does, it will be a disaster because millions of people would not have registered. If that happens then the election is as good as the one done in 2007. Although I have my reservations about  some things done so far, I will leave that for later and list out things that should be done to salvage this voters registration drive.

  1. Voters registration will have to be extended by another week. There were a lot of hiccups at the beginning and that time would have to be got from somewhere.
  2. 2-3 days of public holidays will have to be declared in the extra week to ensure people have the time to stay at home (where they will vote) and register. Before you shout, far less important things have led to the declaration of holidays. I do believe a week of public holidays is not too much to sacrifice for the future of Nigeria. besides it will not be done at the scale ever again. so they say.
  3. Registration days have to be lengthened: I hear registration closes by 3 on Sunday. I think having registrations until 8pm is not too much to ask for at these last days especially in greatly populated areas.
  4. A queuing system would have to be deployed. I went to vote yesterday morning and was told i would have to return the next day as too many people were before me. The problem is, what time do I return? I should be sent a test approximately 30 minutes before it is my turn. A lot of people have very limited free periods so it will be appreciated if their times are optimized. secondly, a queuing system will allow INEC to know how many people are yet to register. “text your name to 1960 if you are yet to register”

If some of these things are not done, we will see queues of 300 people in the last hour of the last day (Naija style) turned back?

Please, if you have not registered pleas do. I have that very sweet feeling that this is the time, I promise you will not want to be left out.

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