The Cross River State government on Wednesday said it plans to reduce transportation costs through the introduction of electric vehicles as part of its 2026 transport sector reforms.

The commissioner for transportation, Ekpenyong Cobhams, made this known in Calabar while outlining the ministry’s plans and projections for the year.

Mr Cobhams said the administration initially faced challenges due to widespread sectoral decay inherited by the present administration in the state.

He explained that prioritisation of reforms was guided by Governor Bassey Otu’s ‘People First’ mantra, aimed at delivering solutions across critical sectors.

The commissioner said the state commenced procurement of electric mobility platforms in 2025 to address urban transportation challenges.

According to him, the procurement includes electric tricycles, electric cars, shuttle buses and city buses.

He said that some consignments of the electric vehicles had already arrived at the Onne Port, while others were expected within weeks.

He added that the delays were caused by discrepancies in waiver documentation, which were currently being resolved.

He said, “The first procurement tranche covers 400 electric tricycles and 550 electric cars, while the second tranche includes 50 electric cars, 20 shuttle buses and 10 electric city buses.

“The city buses are a strategic investment aimed at providing affordable and sustainable urban mobility, as transportation plays a critical role in economic growth and impacts every aspect of daily life.”

The commissioner said the initiative was designed to reduce commuting costs within the Calabar metropolis.

He noted that civil servants currently spent up to 60 per cent of their incomes on transportation, which he described as unsustainable.

Mr Cobhams said the government planned to reduce fares on major routes from about N1,000 to and fro to as low as N600, which would be N300 per trip.

He said the reduction would significantly ease financial pressure on households and improve living standards, as high transportation costs also contributed to rising food prices in the state.

“The state opted for electric buses with a range of up to 440 kilometres, unlike conventional models used elsewhere; the extended range would improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. The initiative would also lead to the upgrade of transport infrastructure, including modern terminals,” he said.

According to him, the state is working with a firm to develop a comprehensive transport ecosystem covering land and water transportation.

He said the government was also determined to address the problem of multiple, unregulated private motor parks in the state’s urban centres before extending reforms to rural transportation systems. 

(NAN)