Cross River Town Planners Seek Active Law

The newly inaugurated 13th chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Cross River State chapter, Tpl. Ayi Ekpeyong Akiba, has pledged to uphold high professional standards and advocate for an enforceable State Urban and Regional Planning Law.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP  Weekend after his inauguration in Calabar, Akiba said he was assuming office “with humility, with a clear sense of its weight,” and stressed that the position “is not ceremonial but consequential” that  demands “judgment, discipline, and unwavering commitment to service.”

“We will neither compromise standards nor blur responsibilities, nor tow paths of convenience that will weaken our discipline,” he stated. “Because without discipline, there can be no order; and without order, no sustainable development.”

On policy and environment, Akiba said the Chapter will “support practical planning frameworks and contribute meaningfully to policy, especially in land use, environmental management, and development control, with emphasis on green infrastructure and climate-responsive planning.”

He  promised to push for the employment of qualified Town Planners and the strengthening of the Town Planning Department and Area Planning Authorities.

The new chairman drew a firm line on professional boundaries, warning that “Collaboration must not erode professional boundaries.”

He added that the Chapter “will work with all stakeholders constructively, but within the limits of our mandate,” stressing that complementarity must be guided by competence, respect for roles, and due process.

Akiba outlined integrity, transparency, and accountability as key policy thrusts of his tenure, promising to “review, build, and deliver on areas of specific need.”

He said the chapter “stands ready to engage responsibly and productively to fully realise the ‘People First’ mantra,” which aligns with the “Renewed Hope Agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.”

He honoured NITP Cross River pioneers and mentors, saying their legacy charges the Chapter to preserve and advance the profession “with clarity and discipline.” “The task is demanding.

Earlier, the guest lecturer, Dr Ukpali Ukpali, who spoke on the topic, “Role of Planners in Driving the People’s Mandate Towards Sustainable City Development: Opportunities and Challenges”, urged the government and town planners to put things in proper perspective in order to make things work.