Several pregnant women and nursing mothers were among 10,000 of applicants who stormed the U.J. Esuene Stadium at the weekend as the Cross River State Government commenced the first phase of the screening exercise for recruitment into its 1,500-man Green Police.
The exercise, which started with a two-kilometer walk from the stadium through MCC and Murtala Muhammed Highway and back, saw thousands of very energetic youth aged between 18 and 35 queue up as early as 7.am to be shortlisted as cadets.
Others included former councillors as well as those above 40 years who have experienced long years of unemployment.
Reacting to the mammoth crowd, Governor Ben Ayade said he was saddened by what the exercise in Calabar had clearly revealed, which is a depressing unemployment situation not only in Cross River but the entire country.
According to the governor, “I feel very sad that this is the kind of situation that confronts us as a people and as a nation. I have always maintained that my government is for the very poor. I completely agree with the philosophy of my predecessor, Senator Liyel Imoke, that governance should be taken to those who need it the most. I am guided by this philosophy.”
Ayade further disclosed that “what I have seen here today, the challenge is on me to create more jobs for our teeming unemployed youths.”ý
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Forestry Commission, Dr. Perpetua Aji, who said that she was overwhelmed by the turnout including pregnant women whom she described as unfit for the paramilitary job, stressed, “the exercise was borne out of Ayade’s desire to increase the forest cover of the state, with aggressive and massive planting of trees, raising nursery beds, so we need people to participate to actualize this dream.”
She further stressed that “the purpose of establishing Green Police in the state is to protect the forest, plant trees, protect the coastal land amongst other environmental conservation programmed in their respective communities under Forestry Commission.”
The permanent secretary also disclosed that “though the advertisement was restricted to OND and NCE as the highest qualifications, those with higher qualifications, including PhD have also been jostling to be employed into the Green Police due to lack of employment.”
One of the pregnant women and mother of three, Mrs Esther Manson, from Akamkpa Local Government Area said, “I know it is risky for me to do this exercise, I want to assist my husband to support the house, I don’t want to be left behind.”
Over eight thousand persons submitted applications for the recruitment exercise.
The first phase of the recruitment exercise covered the seven local council areas of the Southern Senatorial District which attracted 4,000 applicants. The remaining two Senatorial districts of Northern and Central are expected in a few days.
About 1,500 persons will be recruited into the special force after the exercise, as the governor promised to create 1,000 jobs in his 100 days in office.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar