ABUJA (AFP) -- Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said the country's security agencies have been put on full alert to clamp down on any disturbances in connection with elections later this month.

"The police and all other security agencies have been placed on full alert to clamp down heavily on any persons who ... threaten our collective desire for trouble-free elections in the coming days," Obasanjo said in an Easter message.

The New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch, last week criticized the Nigerian authorities for not doing enough to stem political violence in the run-up to the elections set for April 14 and 21.

Obasanjo said the federal government takes very seriously its duty to provide a climate conducive to peaceful elections and an orderly transition.

"Our administration remains unwaveringly committed to ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition on May 29 this year and we have given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police and other security agencies all necessary support to ensure this," Obasanjo said.

He said the major task before Nigerians is to elect "honest, up-right, capable, dedicated, effective, efficient and God-fearing leaders" to take over the running of the country when he steps down as president on May 29.

"We must all play a very conscientious and responsible part in the discharge of this very important civic and patriotic duty," Obasanjo said.

"We cannot, at this very important stage of our national development, afford to entrust its affairs, once again, to persons who will callously reverse the gains of the past eight years and take us back to the dark days before May 29, 1999," Obasajo said, referring to the date of Nigeria's return to civilian rule after a series of military coups.