Naira Scarcity Could Make Many Nigerians Vulnerable To Vote Buying - Crisis Group Asserts

A non-governmental organisation, International Crisis Group, has talked about the naira scarcity.

The group says the scarcity of naira notes could make many Nigerians “vulnerable” to vote-buying in the forthcoming polls.

The group, in a report published on Friday, titled “Mitigating Risks of Violence in Nigeria’s 2023 Elections”, highlighted the threats that could mar the February and March polls.

It said the lingering fuel scarcity may disrupt the distribution of election materials and hinder many voters from travelling to their polling units.

“Two further problems for the elections are the shortages of motor vehicle fuel in most parts of the country since late 2022 and the scarcity of cash following the federal government’s introduction of redesigned banknotes in December,” the report reads.

“If unresolved before the polls, fuel shortages could hamper INEC logistics and disenfranchise the many voters who need to travel to polling stations.

“The paucity of currency has already created significant hardship, which could make a greater number of voters

vulnerable to vote-buying and ratchet up election tensions even further.”

Over the past few weeks, Nigerians have been battling with the scarcity of new naira notes and petrol — a development that has led to queues at banking halls, automated teller machine (ATM) points and filling stations

The development has also led to protests in some parts of the country