Democracy Day: Cross River Rolls Out Electric Vehicles For Permanent Secretaries

The Cross River State Government has launched 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 initiative signalled the state’s commitment to clean energy transportation while also improving the welfare and productivity of senior public servants.

According to a statement made available to journalists on Friday, Otu said the programme was designed to enhance efficiency in the public service and reduce transportation costs for government 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,” the governor said at the presentation ceremony.

He described permanent secretaries as critical drivers of government performance, stressing that a strong and motivated bureaucracy remains essential 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,” Otu said.

The governor explained that the decision to embrace electric vehicles followed a review of the state’s transportation costs and a search for more sustainable alternatives.

“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.

Otu noted that the vehicles would significantly cut operating expenses for beneficiaries, particularly fuel and maintenance costs.

“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,” he stated.

According to the governor, the 36 vehicles represent the first phase of a broader initiative that will see the deployment of 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles 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.

The governor also disclosed plans to establish charging infrastructure to support the adoption of electric vehicles and ensure the sustainability of the programme.

“Beyond these cars, we are going to begin to set up charging ports, particularly for those that will serve the public,” he said.

“We have gone quite far with the plans, and the relevant ministries are already working on them.”

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

Earlier, the State’s Head of Service, Orok Okon, described the initiative as a landmark achievement for the civil service and praised the governor for introducing modern technology into government operations.

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

He also pledged the continued commitment of the state civil service to improved service delivery in support of the administration’s development objectives.