In a bid to return Calabar metropolis to its clean and green status, Publicity Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South-south zone, Bishop Emmah Gospel Isong, at the weekend, mobilised over 3000 residents of Ikot Eneobong/Ikot Nkebre communities, including members of his church, the Christian Central Chapel for a 3-hour city wide sanitation exercise.
The Cross River state government had declared last Saturday state-wide sanitation day, and the clergyman keying into the declaration, led about 17 other pastors, members and residents for a thorough clean up. They provided fez-caps and t-shirts as well providing free food for those who took part.
In an interview, the clergy man said: “We are excited that the government of Cross River state has motivated us to come out of our homes, clean our environment and return Cross River state to the clean, green and safe environment that we used to know.
“Cleanliness, they say, is next to godliness. As Christians, we should be clean in the inside and the outside, in our environment and character. With the sanitation, there is going to be a reduction in crime rate at least today. Like the saying goes, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. All the youths participating would dine and wine with me today after the sanitation exercise.
“We are not only cleaning the environment, we are also using this event for socialization, and we are making it a culture and we believe people will get used to it. Remember how Cross River state used to be, we are returning it there. We thank our Digital Governor and his digital team for this vision.
“As you can witness, residents of Ikot Eneobong, Ikot Nkebre communities in 8 miles and environs, including members of our Church are very excited that after many years, this activity has come up again. I am pioneering it in this area.
“If you look at the streets from the beginning to the end, you would see that thousands of people have turned up. We have made thousands of fez caps and t-shirts available for them, and we are also providing food for those helping out so as to motivate them.”
