The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the sum of N459million for the procurement of seventeen thousand smart card readers for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ahead of the 2015 elections.

The smart card readers which are to be used for the verification of voters card by prospective voters during election are to be delivered within the next six months.

Addressing journalists after the FEC meeting on Wednesday, the minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said the contract for thesmart Card reader was the first batch of contracts to be awarded by INEC.

“In its desire to ensure free, fair and credible elections, the INEC is to procure, customise and configure 17,000 smart card readers that will be deployed during elections for voters authentication,” he said.

According to him, the approval was part of efforts to show the commitment of the administration to free, fair, and credible elections in the country.

The contract was awarded to Zinox Technologies Ltd and is to be delivered to the commission at the rate of N27,000 each.