The Cross River Government has called for synergy with the state command of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) on sanitation and enforcement of environmental laws in the state.
Commissioner for Environment in the state, Mr Mfon Bassey, made the call on Monday in Calabar when the leadership of the state VGN command paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Bassey said that the collaboration became necessary following the state government’s priority in environmental protection, cleanliness and greenery of the state.
He told the VGN that the Gov. Ben Ayade administration has committed a lot of resources to the maintenance of a clean and green environment in Calabar.
“I want to disclose that we have been assigned a magistrate court to help us tackle issues of environment and punish those who brake the law.
“As a Ministry, we really need the court to enforce some of these laws because we must punish offenders of environmental laws with a view to making sure the right thing is done.
“The court is to instill discipline on our people. We opted for a magistrate court because of its seriousness and readiness to work with us,” he said.
He frowned at cases were some residents dump their waste in the drains instead of using the bins at various locations for dumping of waste.
He reiterated that the Ministry was committed to the recovery of all green areas within the city, adding that any illegal structure erected on verges or drainages would be destroyed.
Speaking, the State Commandant of VGN, Dr Mercy Effiom, told the Commissioner that VGN is a national security outfit established in 1983 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 1999.
Effiom said that the VGN gives information and arrest criminals, where necessary and hand them over to security agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.
She assured the Commissioner that officials of VGN in the state would work in harmony with the ministry to arrest and ensure that residents comply with the environmental laws.
She disclosed that part of their mandate were to protect lives and properties, assist in crowd control, community policing, security provision in public places among others.
She appealed for the provision of security gadgets like walkie-talkies, torch lights, stun gun and office accommodation.
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