Barely six months after the Green Police was inaugurated in Calabar, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has finally unveiled the cadet cadre and empowered them with official vehicles to operate.
The Green Police was inaugurated on May 26 with 1,500 volunteers to combat climate change.
Unveiling the police at the weekend in Calabar, Ayade implored them to be diligent and committed to their mandate.
“You are the ‘Green eyes of Africa’ and have been conferred with powers to enforce the state sanitation laws and policies; can arrest and issue warrants while ensuring that all citizens and residents comply with the state’s sanitation and environmental policies.
“It is your responsibility to ensure that all drainages are kept clean, all fences painted and kept clean, every house has a minimum of four trees and the environmental contractors ranging from grass cutting to desilting, irrigation, landscaping, urban afforestation renewal, public parks, waste collection and management, remain directly under your control and supervision,” Ayade said.
He said the state would always lead the way in combating climate change.
“If we have to maintain the Calabar status as the most beautiful and cleanest city in the country, all I ask of you is to be soft, diplomatic and gentle while hoping that Cross River will continue to lead and dominate the African landscape when it comes to issues of climate change mitigation.
“Calabar is not only green because of our nature but because we do something about it. It is not a gift, it is an effort and it is this effort that leads to the result that we see today,” Ayade said.
He called on Cross Riverians to comply with directives of the green police
About 35 vehicles have been donated by government to the green police for effective policing of the climate within the metropolis.
