By Okoribe Bassey Offiong
In recent days, the usually pristine boulevards of Calabar bore an unfamiliar sight: tons of refuse heaps unsettled residents and stirred an unusually loud civic outcry. The development, though temporary, struck at the heart of a city whose identity has long been intertwined with orderliness and environmental grace. Citizens across neighbourhoods, from bustling markets to quiet residential quarters, voiced concern that the sanitation culture for which Calabar is celebrated was being threatened.
The situation quickly drew the attention of the Governor Bassey Otu, who reacted with characteristic urgency. Disturbed by reports of waste accumulation and the distress it generated among residents, the governor ordered an immediate review of the city’s sanitation operations. “Calabar’s reputation for cleanliness was not built overnight,” Governor Otu declared. “It is the product of discipline, policy consistency and civic responsibility. We cannot allow negligence, no matter how brief, to tarnish that legacy.”
To reinforce oversight and restore confidence, the governor directed that sanitation activities across the metropolis be closely supervised through the office of the Special Adviser on General Duties. According to him, the intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies responsible for waste management. “Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government,” he stressed. “It is central to public health, urban dignity and the overall quality of life of our citizens.”
Governor Otu did not disguise his displeasure at what he described as unacceptable lapses on the part of contractors engaged for refuse evacuation. While the operators cited mechanical breakdowns as the principal cause of the disruption, the governor maintained that operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. “Breakdowns may occur in any operation,” he said pointedly, “but preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.”
Following the governor’s intervention, the contractors confirmed that their operational equipment had been fully restored and redeployed across the city.
One of the managers overseeing the evacuation effort explained: “We experienced serious mechanical challenges that slowed down our evacuation schedule, but the machinery has now been repaired and returned to service.
Our teams are working day and night to clear the backlog and ensure the city regains its usual cleanliness. What was experienced and few days ago, had nothing to do with the governor or the government. It was basically technical and mechanical.”
In a decisive administrative move, Governor Otu also issued a marching order to the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) to intervene directly. The agency responded with speed, deploying additional trucks, sanitation workers and supervisory teams to affected areas. A senior CUDA official explained the urgency of the assignment: “The Governor’s directive was clear, restore environmental order without delay. We have intensified refuse evacuation operations across major corridors and residential districts.”
Across Calabar’s main arteries—Murtala Mohammed Highway, Marian Road and the busy Watt Market, the renewed clean-up campaign soon began to produce visible results. Convoys of refuse trucks rumbled through the streets while sanitation workers laboured under the tropical sun to remove debris and clear collection points. The city’s familiar rhythm of environmental order gradually began to reassert itself.
On the streets, residents who had earlier voiced alarm began to acknowledge the swift governmental response. At the bustling Watt Market, a trader who identified herself as Mrs. Okon remarked: “When the refuse started piling up, we were worried because Calabar is known everywhere for its cleanliness. But once the Governor intervened, the clean-up started immediately. We have seen trucks coming regularly now.”
In the Marian axis, a commercial bus driver, Mr. Effiong, offered a similar perspective. “The difference is already clear,” he said, gesturing toward a freshly cleared refuse point. “A few days ago the place was messy, but now sanitation workers are here almost every day. The Governor’s order has made the agencies take the work seriously again.”
Younger residents have also heaved a sigh of relief at the renewed sanitation drive. A university student living in the Etta Agbor area observed: “Clean surroundings matter a lot for health and for the image of our city. We are glad the government responded quickly. But residents too must help by disposing of waste properly.”
To deepen citizen participation in environmental management, the state government has introduced dedicated phone numbers through which residents can report sanitation issues for immediate attention. The Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Ekpenyong Akiba explained the initiative: “Environmental cleanliness cannot be sustained by government alone. By giving residents direct channels to report problems, we are strengthening a culture of shared responsibility and prompt intervention.”
Authorities have also reiterated the need for strict compliance with previously announced refuse disposal schedules. Governor Otu, reaffirming his administration’s environmental vision, concluded with a firm reminder: “The cleanliness of Calabar is a collective heritage we must guard jealously. Government will enforce standards, contractors must deliver on their obligations, and citizens must play their part. Together, we will ensure that Calabar remains the shining environmental pride of Cross River State.”