Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has provided 15 electric cars for magistrates in the state, barely 24 hours after presenting electric vehicles to leaders of organised labour.
The latest presentation is part of the state government's electric vehicle initiative, which is aimed at improving the mobility of public servants, reducing transportation challenges and creating better working conditions for government officials.
The vehicles were presented on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at a ceremony in Cross River State. The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Ene Cobham, who urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the vehicles.
Cobham said the gesture showed the government's commitment to supporting public servants and helping them carry out their duties more effectively. He congratulated the magistrates who received the vehicles and described the initiative as another step towards improving their welfare and supporting the administration of justice.
He also assured the beneficiaries that more eligible public servants would benefit as the electric vehicle programme expands across the state.
Some of the magistrates expressed appreciation to the governor, describing the intervention as timely, especially in view of the transportation and security challenges they face while carrying out their official responsibilities.
Magistrate Felicia Acha Uchinke said the vehicle would make it easier for her to perform her judicial duties, particularly when handling criminal cases.
She explained that travelling in public transport could expose magistrates to uncomfortable and potentially unsafe situations, as they might unknowingly find themselves sharing a vehicle with people involved in cases they had previously handled or sentenced.
According to her, providing magistrates with personal official vehicles would help protect their safety and dignity while allowing them to travel to court and other official engagements with greater confidence.
Chief Magistrate Ekong Imona also thanked Governor Otu for the gesture, describing it as a welcome development for judicial officers in the state.
Imona commended the Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Akon Ikpeme, for facilitating the initiative and showing concern for the welfare of magistrates.
He said the vehicles would improve their mobility and help them discharge their judicial responsibilities more efficiently.
The latest presentation follows the governor's provision of electric vehicles to leaders of organised labour, including representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Joint Negotiating Council and Nigeria Union of Teachers.
The state government has also previously distributed electric vehicles to senior civil servants as part of a wider plan to introduce cleaner transportation and reduce the cost of running official vehicles.
In June 2026, Governor Otu announced a broader programme involving 100 electric vehicles and 100 electric tricycles for public service and empowerment. He also disclosed plans to develop charging infrastructure to support the use of electric vehicles across the state.
The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on petrol-powered vehicles among beneficiaries. However, the long-term benefits will also depend on the availability of charging facilities, maintenance arrangements and the cost of operating the vehicles.
For magistrates, the latest intervention is particularly significant because their duties sometimes involve sensitive criminal cases and official movements that may raise security concerns.
With 15 magistrates now included in the programme, the state government says the electric vehicle rollout will continue to cover more eligible public servants in subsequent phases.
The presentation adds the judiciary to the list of public institutions benefiting from Cross River State's ongoing electric mobility initiative.
Post A Comment: