Restoring Order in Urban Development: The Case of Calabar’s Water Board Layout

By Okoi Obono-Obla

I value discipline and the enforcement of laws, especially in planning and environmental regulations, because they bring about orderliness in how we build houses and maintain a clean, well‑organized environment. Such discipline reflects a society that is well‑behaved and responsible. Unfortunately, much of the development in our cities reveals how town planning regulators have compromised their duties, allowing people to build haphazardly on green areas, waterways, and every available space without regard for the violence inflicted on the ecosystem. This is appalling and portrays us as disorderly, undisciplined, and careless in thought and behavior.

Take, for instance, the Water Board neighborhood in Calabar, originally developed as a green reserve area. In recent times, scavengers and vandals have invaded the neighborhood, appropriating lands belonging to the State Government. Using proceeds of money laundering and ill‑gotten wealth, they have erected palatial buildings that deface and destroy the aesthetics of the layout. One would have expected the government to intervene and hold these outlaws accountable, as their actions reflect the morally bankrupt and lawless tendencies of certain elites.

The government’s recent resolve to restore some semblance of order is commendable. However, such efforts must be devoid of political vendetta or the temptation to settle scores with opponents and detractors. If the government finally decides to restore the Water Board layout in Calabar, the process must be fair and non‑discriminatory. It should not selectively target some violators while sparing others based on political affiliations. All violators should be equally punished. Demolishing buildings erected without the slightest regard for town planning regulations and environmental management is welcome, but any hint of vendetta would be unacceptable and condemned by men and women of good conscience.

Conclusion: Urban order and environmental preservation are not just about aesthetics; they are about discipline, justice, and fairness. If the government acts decisively and impartially, Calabar’s Water Board layout can once again reflect the beauty and orderliness that disciplined societies uphold.