Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a bold move toward clean energy transportation, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has unveiled the first batch of 36 electric vehicles, EVs, for Permanent Secretaries, declaring that the state is embracing electric mobility to cut transportation costs and reduce dependence on petroleum products.
The rollout, which formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration, is the first phase of a broader programme that will see the deployment of 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles for public service and empowerment initiatives across the state.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Governor Otu said the decision followed a strategic review of the state’s expenditure profile, which showed that transportation accounted for a significant portion of government spending.
“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,” Otu said.
The governor described the initiative as a major step toward modernizing transportation while improving efficiency in governance and reducing operational costs for public servants.
“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 stated.
Otu noted that the electric vehicles would significantly reduce fuel and maintenance expenses, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective transportation option.
“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 explained.
The governor said the 36 vehicles handed over to Permanent Secretaries represent only the first phase of a larger electric mobility agenda aimed at transforming transportation in 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 added.
Beyond vehicle deployment, Otu announced plans to establish charging infrastructure across Cross River to support the growing adoption of electric vehicles by both government officials and private citizens.
“Beyond these cars, we are going to begin to set up charging ports, particularly for those that will serve the public. We have gone quite far with the plans, and the relevant ministries are already working on them,” he said.
The governor also linked the initiative to efforts to strengthen the state civil service, describing Permanent Secretaries as critical drivers of governance and policy implementation.
“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 remarked.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Barrister Orok Okon, hailed the gesture as a landmark achievement and morale booster for the state bureaucracy, noting that Permanent Secretaries had not enjoyed such support in over a decade.
“Generations of Permanent Secretaries who worked for this state in the last ten years were not this fortunate. 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,” Okon said.
The initiative positions Cross River among the few sub-national governments in Nigeria actively investing in electric mobility, reflecting a growing shift towards cleaner energy solutions and lower-carbon transportation systems.
