Democracy Day: Cross River unveils electric vehicles for senior civil servants

The Cross River State Government has unveiled a new electric mobility initiative with the distribution of 36 electric vehicles to Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service, as part of activities marking Democracy Day.

Governor Bassey Otu said the rollout represents the beginning of a wider shift towards clean energy transportation and a renewed effort to strengthen governance through improved welfare for senior public servants.

According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, speaking at the presentation ceremony, Otu said the initiative was designed to improve efficiency in the public service while easing transportation costs for top officials.

“One of the main directions and focuses of our administration is to build integrity in service and also dignify the different officials and give them confidence to be able to produce at the highest level anybody can think of,” he said.

The governor described permanent secretaries as key drivers of government performance, noting that a strong bureaucracy remains central to effective governance.

“Cross River State is never lacking in capacity at any point in time. Some of the people we are trying to strengthen are among the best you can think of in the country.

“Nobody can beat them, as far as I am concerned. But whoever puts in labour also deserves a reward,” he said.

Otu explained that the decision to adopt electric vehicles followed an assessment of rising transport costs and the need for a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuel dependence.

“We discovered that about 60 per cent of our expenses are on transportation.

“We first looked at CNG because we have a lot of gas in the country, but later it became clear that if we were to build our people’s support on this, we had better go electric,” he said.

He added that the vehicles would significantly reduce running costs for beneficiaries.

“Today, you are going to save almost more than 75 per cent of what you expend on fueling your cars and running up and down.

“With these vehicles, you are not changing oil or constantly visiting mechanics. Once the battery is charged, the car is ready to move,” Otu said.

According to the governor, the 36 vehicles form the first phase of a larger programme involving 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles aimed at expanding clean transport access across the state.

“This is the first in a series. We still have a lot to do. Before the end of our term, or at the beginning of the next, everybody should be able to own the keys to an electric car because that will make movement seamless,” he said.

Otu also disclosed plans to develop charging infrastructure to support the growing adoption of electric vehicles across Cross River State.

“Beyond these cars, we are going to begin to set up charging ports, particularly for those that will serve the public,” he said, adding, “We have gone quite far with the plans, and the relevant ministries are already working on them.”

He commended the State House of Assembly for supporting the administration’s development agenda through budget approvals and legislative backing.

Earlier, the Head of Service, Orok Okon, described the initiative as a landmark intervention in the civil service, saying it had restored pride to the bureaucracy.

“Generations of Permanent Secretaries who worked for this state in the last ten years were not this fortunate,” he said.

“Today, His Excellency has broken that jinx. The first beneficiaries of the latest global technology in electric automobiles are Permanent Secretaries serving in the Government of Cross River State. We can never thank you enough,” he added, pledging renewed commitment to public service delivery.