The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has warned residents of the state to ensure that the state’s cleanliness and greenery are sustained or be ready to face prosecution.

Ayade gave the warning when he formally announced the change of name of the state’s non-armed bearing outfit, the Green Police to Green Sheriff at the Government House in Calabar, the State Capital.

Addressing the team who was presented with official vehicles, Ayade informed them that, it is imperative for the cleanliness of the city to be sustained as his administration will have zero tolerance for an untidy environment.

He further stated that the new outfit “Green Sheriff” must serve as an environmental neighbourhood watch by ensuring that every resident of the state and Calabar, in particular, keeps his or her environment very clean.

He explained that the Green Sheriff’s responsibilities will include general sanitation check, nursing and planting of trees, ensuring that refuse bins are evacuated as and when due, report erring wastes evacuation contractors as well as arrest persons who litter the environment.

Other roles the governor enumerated were to stop deforestation, afforestation supervision while ensuring that irrigation contractors water all trees.