Democracy Day: Otu Unveils Electric Vehicles for Permanent Secretaries, Expands Clean Energy Drive in Cross River

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Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has unveiled 36 electric vehicles for Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day, describing the initiative as the beginning of a wider transition to clean energy transportation and a renewed effort to strengthen the public service.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony, the governor said the move was aimed at enhancing the dignity of the civil service, improving efficiency in governance and reducing transportation costs for senior government officials.

According to Otu, one of the key priorities of his administration is to promote integrity within the public service and provide officials with the confidence and support needed to perform optimally.

He stressed that Permanent Secretaries represent some of the finest professionals in the country and noted that an effective bureaucracy remains the engine room of government.

“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,” the governor said.

Shift from CNG to Electric Mobility
Governor Otu explained that the decision to adopt electric vehicles was informed by the increasing cost of transportation and the impact of fluctuations in the petroleum sector on residents and government operations.

He revealed that the administration initially considered deploying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered vehicles because of Nigeria’s abundant gas resources.

However, after extensive evaluation, the government concluded that electric vehicles offered a more sustainable and economically viable alternative.

“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 stated.

The governor highlighted the economic benefits of electric vehicles, saying users would save more than 75 per cent of the amount ordinarily spent on fuel and vehicle maintenance.

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

First Batch of Larger Programme
Otu disclosed that the 36 vehicles presented to Permanent Secretaries constitute the first phase of a broader initiative involving 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles intended for empowerment schemes and public transportation.

He said the administration plans to gradually extend the programme to other arms of government and eventually make electric mobility accessible to ordinary citizens 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,” the governor said.

Charging Infrastructure Underway
To support the growing adoption of electric mobility, Governor Otu announced plans to establish charging stations and service points across Cross River State.

He disclosed that significant progress had already been made towards developing the infrastructure needed to sustain the operation of electric vehicles for government officials and members of the public.

“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.

Governor Commends Lawmakers
The governor also used the occasion to commend the Cross River State House of Assembly for its support in advancing his administration’s development agenda.

According to him, many of the achievements recorded so far were made possible through legislative cooperation, especially in the passage of budgets and approval of key programmes.

“For us to get all these things here, we had to sit down, debate and pass the budget. Together, we will continue to build a very strong Cross River State that all of us will be proud of,” he remarked.

Head of Service Hails Initiative
Earlier, the Head of Service, Barrister Orok Okon, described the presentation of the vehicles as a landmark development and a major boost for the morale of the state civil service.

He noted that no Permanent Secretary in the state had enjoyed such a benefit in more than a decade and praised Governor Otu for breaking what he described as a long-standing cycle.

According to Okon, the beneficiaries had become the first set of Permanent Secretaries in Cross River State to enjoy the latest global technology in electric automobiles.

“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,” he said.

He assured the governor that the gesture would be reciprocated through increased commitment, dedication and improved service delivery by the state’s civil servants.

The unveiling of the electric vehicles forms part of the Otu administration’s broader efforts to modernise governance, promote environmental sustainability and position Cross River State among the leading sub-national governments embracing clean energy solutions in Nigeria.