Cross River authorities on Thursday banned the hawking of corn and various wares on major highways, especially the Murtala Mohammed Highway in Calabar.

Tony Adinye of Cross River Pollution Control Agency instructed hawkers to relocate to interior streets on or before August 1.

He said this bid to urgently sanitise the metropolis of every form of environmental pollution and bring decency to the state’s aesthetic.

“While we understand the need for individuals to make an additional income to cushion the effect of the harsh economic realities, we also need to make our state clean and green again,” the official said.

Mr Adinye said the failure of hawkers to comply with the directive would be met with arrest and severe sanctions.

“Those dropping waste on the ground and leaving the dustbins provided by the waste management agency are strongly cautioned to desist from such acts.

“A team of security operatives have been mandated to arrest any person caught polluting the environment with these acts, all concerned by this notice are advised to be guided,” he said.

Calabar, the state capital once deemed the cleanest city in Nigeria, has been defaced by overflowing refuse bins at different points in the metropolis.

(NAN)