Anambra leads South in ease of business despite cash crunch, sit-at-homes – MAN
We’re partnering manufacturers – Gov Anambra State has been rated highest in business or financial sector of the South East zone despite facing ecological, economic and socio-political challenges.
National President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Francis Meshioye gave the rating while speaking during a town hall hosted by the association at Dozzy Oil Crescent, Onitsha.
Listing the challenges being surmounted by Anambra State in delivering business development more than other South East states to include cash crunch, Monday-sit-home, high cost of petroleum products and perennial flooding, among others, Meshioye commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for keying into global economic brand to get rev up the business sector.
Two clips showing Port Harcourt city and Bonny Island NLNG camp. I upload them in the hope someone that matters in gov't views this thread and gets inspired to help improve on our own cities and estates...even if it means knocking a few stubborn Igbo heads together!
First clip shows Bonny NLNG estate. This estate, more than any other, shows why i keep banging on about greenery, sweeping of streets, underground electricity/communications cabling and planning! It would be near impossible to replicate this in any open city in Nigeria, but it's possible to take some pointers from this when constructing exclusive estates....like the upcoming Awka millenium estate for instance. Notice how there's enough space between buildings, and all open spaces are covered in well manicured lawns; there's effort made to plant and nuture well-spaced out ornamental trees; the roads are marked and well swept; there's road signage where necessary; there are even open gutters (my pet hate), but you'd hardly notice due to the cleanliness and organisation of the estate that over-compensates for this; and finally, there's no high perimeter walls (that gives you that enclosed/claustrophobic feeling) built almost on top of the main road! The individual houses in this estate are basic....even austere, but i bet you all watching the clip would much rather have your family living here than in those estates of multi-million dollar mansions with high perimeter walls built almost on top of the roads and which suffer from all the ills we normally complain about!
Second clip shows a part of Port Harcourt City, and there are takeaways we could replicate in our own cities too. Unlike with the NLNG estate, this one shows the open city and hence is better for comparison.
As much as there are quite a number of things i don't like about Wike, one thing we can all agree is that his no-nonsense approach to governance and development of Port Harcourt has helped transform the city into the organised, clean and green one we see today! Notice how there's a near absence of build-up of sand/sediment/rubbish by the sides of the roads as it's apparent they're swept regularly; the roads have the appropriate road markings and signages; notice how, where space permits, the roads are widened to four lanes or more; there's little or no commercial roadside clutter and rubbish....even in the busy/commercial areas, and this gives the city the appearance of sanity and order; for the most part, there's neat sidewalks over underground drainage and adjoining to the sidewalks are usually carpet grass right up to he walls of individual properties....this can help reduce the level of dust in the air and sand/sediment on roadsides; and finally, there's effort made to plant ornamental trees in some areas...esp' highbrow areas.
Individual effort...nobody surpasses us at this! Where we need to pull our socks up is in the area of governance and being firm with those who flout the law!
PROUDIGBO: Two clips showing Port Harcourt city and Bonny Island NLNG camp. I upload them in the hope someone that matters in gov't views this thread and gets inspired to help improve on our own cities and estates...even if it means knocking a few stubborn Igbo heads together!
First clip shows Bonny NLNG estate. This estate, more than any other, shows why i keep banging on about greenery, sweeping of streets, underground electricity/communications cabling and planning! It would be near impossible to replicate this in any open city in Nigeria, but it's possible to take some pointers from this when constructing exclusive estates....like the upcoming Awka millenium estate for instance. Notice how there's enough space between buildings, and all open spaces are covered in well manicured lawns; there's effort made to plant and nuture well-spaced out ornamental trees; the roads are marked and well swept; there's road signage where necessary; there are even open gutters (my pet hate), but you'd hardly notice due to the cleanliness and organisation of the estate that over-compensates for this; and finally, there's no high perimeter walls (that gives you that enclosed/claustrophobic feeling) built almost on top of the main road! The individual houses in this estate are basic....even austere, but i bet you all watching the clip would much rather have your family living here than in those estates of multi-million dollar mansions with high perimeter walls built almost on top of the roads and which suffer from all the ills we normally complain about!
Second clip shows a part of Port Harcourt City, and there are takeaways we could replicate in our own cities too. Unlike with the NLNG estate, this one shows the open city and hence is better for comparison.
As much as there are quite a number of things i don't like about Wike, one thing we can all agree is that his no-nonsense approach to governance and development of Port Harcourt has helped transform the city into the organised, clean and green one we see today! Notice how there's a near absence of build-up of sand/sediment/rubbish by the sides of the roads as it's apparent they're swept regularly; the roads have the appropriate road markings and signages; notice how, where space permits, the roads are widened to four lanes; there's little or no commercial roadside clutter and rubbish....even in the busy/commercial areas, and this gives the city the appearance of sanity and order; for the most part, there's neat sidewalks over underground drainage and adjoining to the sidewalks are usually carpet grass right up to he walls of individual properties....this can help reduce the level of dust in the air and sand/sediment on roadsides; and finally, there's effort made to plant ornamental trees in some areas...esp' highbrow areas.
Individual effort...nobody surpasses us at this! Where we need to pull our socks up is in the area of governance and being firm with those who flout the law!
Bonny island is fine no doubt, I don’t think there’s a well managed estates in Nigeria like Bonny island, that explains the presence of some foreign living there
The other video is the best part of river state were there’s government house and other government departments. Mosco road, borikiri,Abacha road, Peter odili road, Gra etc so is expected that it should be fine
PROUDIGBO: Two clips showing Port Harcourt city and Bonny Island NLNG camp. I upload them in the hope someone that matters in gov't views this thread and gets inspired to help improve on our own cities and estates...even if it means knocking a few stubborn Igbo heads together!
First clip shows Bonny NLNG estate. This estate, more than any other, shows why i keep banging on about greenery, sweeping of streets, underground electricity/communications cabling and planning! It would be near impossible to replicate this in any open city in Nigeria, but it's possible to take some pointers from this when constructing exclusive estates....like the upcoming Awka millenium estate for instance. Notice how there's enough space between buildings, and all open spaces are covered in well manicured lawns; there's effort made to plant and nuture well-spaced out ornamental trees; the roads are marked and well swept; there's road signage where necessary; there are even open gutters (my pet hate), but you'd hardly notice due to the cleanliness and organisation of the estate that over-compensates for this; and finally, there's no high perimeter walls (that gives you that enclosed/claustrophobic feeling) built almost on top of the main road! The individual houses in this estate are basic....even austere, but i bet you all watching the clip would much rather have your family living here than in those estates of multi-million dollar mansions with high perimeter walls built almost on top of the roads and which suffer from all the ills we normally complain about!
Second clip shows a part of Port Harcourt City, and there are takeaways we could replicate in our own cities too. Unlike with the NLNG estate, this one shows the open city and hence is better for comparison.
As much as there are quite a number of things i don't like about Wike, one thing we can all agree is that his no-nonsense approach to governance and development of Port Harcourt has helped transform the city into the organised, clean and green one we see today! Notice how there's a near absence of build-up of sand/sediment/rubbish by the sides of the roads as it's apparent they're swept regularly; the roads have the appropriate road markings and signages; notice how, where space permits, the roads are widened to four lanes or more; there's little or no commercial roadside clutter and rubbish....even in the busy/commercial areas, and this gives the city the appearance of sanity and order; for the most part, there's neat sidewalks over underground drainage and adjoining to the sidewalks are usually carpet grass right up to he walls of individual properties....this can help reduce the level of dust in the air and sand/sediment on roadsides; and finally, there's effort made to plant ornamental trees in some areas...esp' highbrow areas.
Individual effort...nobody surpasses us at this! Where we need to pull our socks up is in the area of governance and being firm with those who flout the law!
The day Anambra leaves this home for all mantra and embraces law and order the better for the state. People are just plain lawless in Anambra something you will not see in even adjoining state. If its not the sea of keke madmen driving recklessly without care, its barrow people setting up on the side of roads. It is like that because the state government allows it and every degenerate from around Nigeria quickly discovers you can behave anyhow in Anambra.
Contrast with Rivers where they dont give every keke driver a license, they control their number, they control their bus parks, they control many things. Rivers Mass Transit has an enclosed bus park and no vendor is allowed to sell anywhere outside the permimeter. Contrast with the madness at Upper Iweka or Eastern Mass and Tracas in Awka where buses load recklessly on the side of the road and vendors line up and dump their litter in the gutter.
SOLUDO'S ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER ONE YEAR IN RETROSPECT. ( PART TWO)
THE JOURNEY TO A 'SINGAPOREAN WONDER' IN ANAMBRA STATE!
By Christian ABURIME
In the world today, Asia’s Singapore continues to be referenced and celebrated as the most successful development story that emerged from the 20th century.
Dubbed a ‘little red dot’ on the Asian continent map, Singapore was indeed a tiny island country with little natural resources; a third-world country that got transformed into a prosperous, modern, smart first-world city-state thriving with rapid growth, full employment, life expectancy, education, housing and other socio-economic infrastructure milestones.
But a society does not get transformed in such a phenomenal manner without a transformative agent.
Behind the Singapore success story was the larger-than-life reputation of its world-respected former president, Lee Kuan Yew. It was Yew who, through his ingenious vision and astute leadership, led the economic transformation of Singapore into a modern-day wonder.
Lee Kuan Yew passed away in 2015, but his legacy thrives on. No doubt, the world will continue to witness amazing stories like those of Singapore and Yew in diverse measures.
Closer home, comes the big question: will Anambra State become a Singaporean marvel under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo?
Well, if the last one year of performance in infrastructure development by the governor is anything to go by, a Singaporean experience is surely in the offing in Anambra State
As an accomplished economist who had served as a presidential economic adviser and Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo came to become the Governor of Anambra State with a rich hindsight that there cannot be economic transformation without infrastructure investments.
Today in our series of x-raying his achievements under one year, we shall examine his score card in that regard. On hitting the ground sprinting from his first day of being sworn in as governor, Soludo has had a crystal clear vision which was well spelt out in his now famous manifesto, (The People's Manifesto). And one of the core areas he addressed succinctly was to transform Anambra State into “a livable and prosperous smart megacity” and “Africa’s new axis of sustainable prosperity”.
A place where people, Ndi Anambra and visitors alike, would prefer to live, learn, work, invest, relax and enjoy.
In order to actualize that grand vision, the economist in Soludo knew that he must invest massively in critical infrastructure. True to his vision, the governor took off aggressively under one of his 5-Solution policy pillars, namely Infrastructure and Economic Transformation.
Within 12 months, Soludo’s Anambra became what observers now routinely call a ‘huge construction site’. It is neither tales by moonlight nor playing to the gallery. It is a verifiable daylight reality of concrete achievements by a quiet achiever despite the obfuscating aura of political distractions and controversies cast around him by his traducers.
For a start, Governor Soludo early last year declared a state of emergency on roads in order to improve road infrastructure throughout the state. Swinging into action, he awarded and flagged off 261 km road contracts crisscrossing all the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Today, some of the awarded road constructions have been completed while others are under various stages of completion. Even more reassuring is that the road projects come with complementary full-scale desilting of drainages and are designed to last at least 20 years! In addition to major road constructions, reconstructions and rehabilitations, the Soludo administration also embarked on palliative works on many roads across the state, thereby making them motorable for Ndi Anambra as was enjoyed during the last festive season. With the improving road infrastructure, Anambra’s economy is being primed for robust flourishing.
Taking the journey of infrastructure and economic transformation further, Governor Soludo also latched on to improving power supply. His government developed a clear road map to 24/7 electricity in Anambra State, being executed in collaboration with power sector partners with the ultimate goal of providing regular power in key cities over the next 2 years. For instance, the government signed an MOU with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), thus building a collaborative pact that has engendered the steadily improving power supply across Anambra State till date.
In fact, some feeders in the state are now receiving 22 hours of power every day. Aside that, the Soludo government has also converted over 6,380 diesel-powered streetlights to solar to sustainably keep our streets well lit at night at minimum cost.
What is more, the Phase 2 of converting additional 11,000 more street lights to solar is underway. When an improved power supply meets a state of improved security, the result is a buoyant night economy already emerging in Anambra!
Have we arrived now? Well, the journey of transformation continues in the transport sector. As infrastructure development cannot be fully enjoyed without a functional transportation system, Governor Soludo developed and is executing a strategic Transport Intervention Plan.
The plan encompasses the modernization of water transportation for riverside areas in the state; the construction of bus terminals at Ekwulobia, Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi; strict adherence to civil aviation safety and operational standards at the airport; refurbishment and repair of existing boats and water buses; continuing work to complete the Anambra International Airport; completing a feasibility study for sky train with a pilot in Onitsha, with exploring financing options; and rejuvenating Anambra Transport Management Agency to address the traffic chaos. Still, the journey goes on.
From Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, comes the famous line: ‘water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’. In Anambra State, water is everywhere around us too but is often not clean or safe enough for Ndi Anambra to drink and use for other purposes. Yet, water is an essential part of any economic transformation. That is why the Soludo government also kept faith with improving water resources for the people.
Thus, the government conducted hydrogeological and hydrological mapping of the state; developed a concession plan for water supply in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala, Aguata and other areas; rehabilitated and resuscitated water supply to the state Secretariat Complex; and collaborated with UNICEF to rehabilitate 98 hand pump boreholes in the 7 LGAs.
If usable water availability is essential, food security is indispensable. This brings us to the agriculture aspect of Soludo’s economic transformation journey.
Conscious of the need for healthy nutrition, Governor Soludo launched a regenerative agriculture project aimed at producing natural (organic) food through sustainable means. He went further to attract donor agency funded Small Holder Horticultural Empowerment Project (SHEP) to Anambra. He embarked on a new Palm and Coconut revolution drive by procuring and distributing 220,000 oil palm seedlings and 150,000 coconut seedlings for poverty alleviation and economic growth.
Also procured and distributed were Ukwa (1000 seedlings), Ogbono (1000 seedlings), Akilu (1000 seedlings), Guava (1000 seedlings) and Sour Sop (1000 seedlings).
And to cap the massive support to Anambra farmers, the Soludo administration undertook mass distribution of free farm inputs to farmers through the FADAMA Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FADAMA CARES) which included fertilizers, cassava stems, poultry feeds, day-old chicks (DOCs), improved rice seeds, herbicides and pesticides.
Food security is growing. But that’s not all. Someone once said that industry is fortune’s right hand. It is true. How would the economic transformation of Anambra State be complete without a thriving industry?
How would Anambra attain a Singaporean prosperity without industrial flourishing? Or how would Ndi Anambra make a fortune out of opportunities without industrialization? This made the Soludo government to also prioritize huge infrastructure investments in industry.
First, his government developed a framework for the development of industrial cities that will catalyze rapid economic growth of the state. Then, 53 hectares of land have been acquired in Ukpo (more expected from Ukwulu to make 100 hectares) for the development of an export emporium and Africa’s largest shopping mall.
Also, there is an ongoing engagement with the Federal Government for the Automotive Industrial Park sited on 80 hectares of land donated by Akwaihedi, Unubi and Uga communities.
The Soludo government has further embarked on the construction of the wholesale drug market at Oba to become the largest open drug distribution market in Africa, as well as started the clearing of a 200 hectares Anambra State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub in Ogboji to house over 100 pharmaceutical companies, a pharmaceutical school and so on.
Digitally, to enable the vision and emergence of Anambra as a connected, modern, smart megacity, the Soludo administration has commenced the construction of 2,000km of fibre optic ducts to ensure last mile connectivity. Imagine the resultant digital economy possibilities! Other infrastructure investments include designing and commencing the construction of a Leisure/Entertainment hub around Agulu Lake (African Disneyland); acquiring about 250 hectares of land and signing a PPP agreement with 7 companies for the new Awka City, with 3 companies already on site; and putting back on stream 4 of non-functional 21 housing estates inherited by the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC).
So far, so eventful has been Governor Soludo’s one-year journey to transforming Anambra State economically with massive infrastructure investments. If, according to the World Bank, development happens through structural transformation which shifts the balance of economic activity towards higher productivity manufacturing and service sectors, then Soludo is on the right track.
And as the tireless governor sustains his giant infrastructure development strides, Anambra State could well end up being a modern Singaporean wonder after all. This is just the beginning.
Mktinsight your opinion is useless and worthless. All the rubbish you listed are worse in other adjoining states that doesn't even have the population of Anambra.
I am.yet to see any park in Nigeria that's as organised as the Upper Iweka Lagos park. That park is like regional motorpark because even people from Owerri, aba, ebonyi, Enugu, etc comes to that location just to find a connecting buses to Lagos and far north of Nigeria.
he day Anambra leaves this home for all mantra and embraces law and order the better for the state. People are just plain lawless in Anambra something you will not see in even adjoining state. If its not the sea of keke madmen driving recklessly without care, its barrow people setting up on the side of roads. It is like that because the state government allows it and every degenerate from around Nigeria quickly discovers you can behave anyhow in Anambra.Contrast with Rivers where they dont give every keke driver a license, they control their number, they control their bus parks, they control many things. Rivers Mass Transit has an enclosed bus park and no vendor is allowed to sell anywhere outside the permimeter. Contrast with the madness at Upper Iweka or Eastern Mass and Tracas in Awka where buses load recklessly on the side of the road and vendors line up and dump their litter in the gutter.
Wike sits on billions of heavy oil revenues allocations. Wike didn't achieve anything commensurate to how much he received.
Rivers State is not just Obioakpor where about 90% of his projects are located. All the flyovers he did were in the local government (Obiakpo). Wike is a complete failure if we assess him based on how much he received in eight years.
Please find video of Obigbo and show us, I want see something there. Obigbo today is like where even pigs are not worthy to live due to dilapidated roads and filthy environment.
Show us Eleme, Nembe waterside, Elelenwo, Diobu and many other slums that are even in the Port Harcourt city. Also show us rural areas that's have access roads, not to talk of electricity, etc.
Show us poverty indices of the state. Poverty rate in Rivers State is so high that one begin to wonder if this is an oil producing state that receives billions monthly in allocations. There's nothing Wike did differently considering the amount of money at his disposal.
Anambra with meager allocation, delivered a worldclass international convention centre which is the best and biggest in Nigeria, delivered a worldclass international airport with the longest runway in Nigeria, among other projects including flyovers, roads, bridges, hospitals, etc.
Even Umahi with quite lesser allocation performed better than Wike when we juxtapose what they received and what they delivered in the form of projects.
I want know what Wike did differently that marks him out.
PROUDIGBO: Two clips showing Port Harcourt city and Bonny Island NLNG camp. I upload them in the hope someone that matters in gov't views this thread and gets inspired to help improve on our own cities and estates...even if it means knocking a few stubborn Igbo heads together!
First clip shows Bonny NLNG estate. This estate, more than any other, shows why i keep banging on about greenery, sweeping of streets, underground electricity/communications cabling and planning! It would be near impossible to replicate this in any open city in Nigeria, but it's possible to take some pointers from this when constructing exclusive estates....like the upcoming Awka millenium estate for instance. Notice how there's enough space between buildings, and all open spaces are covered in well manicured lawns; there's effort made to plant and nuture well-spaced out ornamental trees; the roads are marked and well swept; there's road signage where necessary; there are even open gutters (my pet hate), but you'd hardly notice due to the cleanliness and organisation of the estate that over-compensates for this; and finally, there's no high perimeter walls (that gives you that enclosed/claustrophobic feeling) built almost on top of the main road! The individual houses in this estate are basic....even austere, but i bet you all watching the clip would much rather have your family living here than in those estates of multi-million dollar mansions with high perimeter walls built almost on top of the roads and which suffer from all the ills we normally complain about!
Second clip shows a part of Port Harcourt City, and there are takeaways we could replicate in our own cities too. Unlike with the NLNG estate, this one shows the open city and hence is better for comparison.
As much as there are quite a number of things i don't like about Wike, one thing we can all agree is that his no-nonsense approach to governance and development of Port Harcourt has helped transform the city into the organised, clean and green one we see today! Notice how there's a near absence of build-up of sand/sediment/rubbish by the sides of the roads as it's apparent they're swept regularly; the roads have the appropriate road markings and signages; notice how, where space permits, the roads are widened to four lanes or more; there's little or no commercial roadside clutter and rubbish....even in the busy/commercial areas, and this gives the city the appearance of sanity and order; for the most part, there's neat sidewalks over underground drainage and adjoining to the sidewalks are usually carpet grass right up to he walls of individual properties....this can help reduce the level of dust in the air and sand/sediment on roadsides; and finally, there's effort made to plant ornamental trees in some areas...esp' highbrow areas.
Individual effort...nobody surpasses us at this! Where we need to pull our socks up is in the area of governance and being firm with those who flout the law!
post=122829082: SOLUDO'S ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER ONE YEAR IN RETROSPECT. ( PART TWO)
THE JOURNEY TO A 'SINGAPOREAN WONDER' IN ANAMBRA STATE!
By Christian ABURIME
In the world today, Asia’s Singapore continues to be referenced and celebrated as the most successful development story that emerged from the 20th century.
Dubbed a ‘little red dot’ on the Asian continent map, Singapore was indeed a tiny island country with little natural resources; a third-world country that got transformed into a prosperous, modern, smart first-world city-state thriving with rapid growth, full employment, life expectancy, education, housing and other socio-economic infrastructure milestones.
But a society does not get transformed in such a phenomenal manner without a transformative agent.
Behind the Singapore success story was the larger-than-life reputation of its world-respected former president, Lee Kuan Yew. It was Yew who, through his ingenious vision and astute leadership, led the economic transformation of Singapore into a modern-day wonder.
Lee Kuan Yew passed away in 2015, but his legacy thrives on. No doubt, the world will continue to witness amazing stories like those of Singapore and Yew in diverse measures.
Closer home, comes the big question: will Anambra State become a Singaporean marvel under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo?
Well, if the last one year of performance in infrastructure development by the governor is anything to go by, a Singaporean experience is surely in the offing in Anambra State
As an accomplished economist who had served as a presidential economic adviser and Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo came to become the Governor of Anambra State with a rich hindsight that there cannot be economic transformation without infrastructure investments.
Today in our series of x-raying his achievements under one year, we shall examine his score card in that regard. On hitting the ground sprinting from his first day of being sworn in as governor, Soludo has had a crystal clear vision which was well spelt out in his now famous manifesto, (The People's Manifesto). And one of the core areas he addressed succinctly was to transform Anambra State into “a livable and prosperous smart megacity” and “Africa’s new axis of sustainable prosperity”.
A place where people, Ndi Anambra and visitors alike, would prefer to live, learn, work, invest, relax and enjoy.
In order to actualize that grand vision, the economist in Soludo knew that he must invest massively in critical infrastructure. True to his vision, the governor took off aggressively under one of his 5-Solution policy pillars, namely Infrastructure and Economic Transformation.
Within 12 months, Soludo’s Anambra became what observers now routinely call a ‘huge construction site’. It is neither tales by moonlight nor playing to the gallery. It is a verifiable daylight reality of concrete achievements by a quiet achiever despite the obfuscating aura of political distractions and controversies cast around him by his traducers.
For a start, Governor Soludo early last year declared a state of emergency on roads in order to improve road infrastructure throughout the state. Swinging into action, he awarded and flagged off 261 km road contracts crisscrossing all the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Today, some of the awarded road constructions have been completed while others are under various stages of completion. Even more reassuring is that the road projects come with complementary full-scale desilting of drainages and are designed to last at least 20 years! In addition to major road constructions, reconstructions and rehabilitations, the Soludo administration also embarked on palliative works on many roads across the state, thereby making them motorable for Ndi Anambra as was enjoyed during the last festive season. With the improving road infrastructure, Anambra’s economy is being primed for robust flourishing.
Taking the journey of infrastructure and economic transformation further, Governor Soludo also latched on to improving power supply. His government developed a clear road map to 24/7 electricity in Anambra State, being executed in collaboration with power sector partners with the ultimate goal of providing regular power in key cities over the next 2 years. For instance, the government signed an MOU with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), thus building a collaborative pact that has engendered the steadily improving power supply across Anambra State till date.
In fact, some feeders in the state are now receiving 22 hours of power every day. Aside that, the Soludo government has also converted over 6,380 diesel-powered streetlights to solar to sustainably keep our streets well lit at night at minimum cost.
What is more, the Phase 2 of converting additional 11,000 more street lights to solar is underway. When an improved power supply meets a state of improved security, the result is a buoyant night economy already emerging in Anambra!
The plan encompasses the modernization of water transportation for riverside areas in the state; the construction of bus terminals at Ekwulobia, Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi; strict adherence to civil aviation safety and operational standards at the airport; refurbishment and repair of existing boats and water buses; continuing work to complete the Anambra International Airport; completing a feasibility study for sky train with a pilot in Onitsha, with exploring financing options; and rejuvenating Anambra Transport Management Agency to address the traffic chaos. Still, the journey goes on.
From Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, comes the famous line: ‘water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’. In Anambra State, water is everywhere around us too but is often not clean or safe enough for Ndi Anambra to drink and use for other purposes. Yet, water is an essential part of any economic transformation. That is why the Soludo government also kept faith with improving water resources for the people.
Thus, the government conducted hydrogeological and hydrological mapping of the state; developed a concession plan for water supply in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala, Aguata and other areas; rehabilitated and resuscitated water supply to the state Secretariat Complex; and collaborated with UNICEF to rehabilitate 98 hand pump boreholes in the 7 LGAs.
If usable water availability is essential, food security is indispensable. This brings us to the agriculture aspect of Soludo’s economic transformation journey.
Conscious of the need for healthy nutrition, Governor Soludo launched a regenerative agriculture project aimed at producing natural (organic) food through sustainable means. He went further to attract donor agency funded Small Holder Horticultural Empowerment Project (SHEP) to Anambra. He embarked on a new Palm and Coconut revolution drive by procuring and distributing 220,000 oil palm seedlings and 150,000 coconut seedlings for poverty alleviation and economic growth.
Also procured and distributed were Ukwa (1000 seedlings), Ogbono (1000 seedlings), Akilu (1000 seedlings), Guava (1000 seedlings) and Sour Sop (1000 seedlings).
And to cap the massive support to Anambra farmers, the Soludo administration undertook mass distribution of free farm inputs to farmers through the FADAMA Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FADAMA CARES) which included fertilizers, cassava stems, poultry feeds, day-old chicks (DOCs), improved rice seeds, herbicides and pesticides.
Food security is growing. But that’s not all. Someone once said that industry is fortune’s right hand. It is true. How would the economic transformation of Anambra State be complete without a thriving industry?
How would Anambra attain a Singaporean prosperity without industrial flourishing? Or how would Ndi Anambra make a fortune out of opportunities without industrialization? This made the Soludo government to also prioritize huge infrastructure investments in industry.
First, his government developed a framework for the development of industrial cities that will catalyze rapid economic growth of the state. Then, 53 hectares of land have been acquired in Ukpo (more expected from Ukwulu to make 100 hectares) for the development of an export emporium and Africa’s largest shopping mall.
The Soludo government has further embarked on the construction of the wholesale drug market at Oba to become the largest open drug distribution market in Africa, as well as started the clearing of a 200 hectares Anambra State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub in Ogboji to house over 100 pharmaceutical companies, a pharmaceutical school and so on.
Digitally, to enable the vision and emergence of Anambra as a connected, modern, smart megacity, the Soludo administration has commenced the construction of 2,000km of fibre optic ducts to ensure last mile connectivity. Imagine the resultant digital economy possibilities! Other infrastructure investments include designing and commencing the construction of a Leisure/Entertainment hub around Agulu Lake (African Disneyland); acquiring about 250 hectares of land and signing a PPP agreement with 7 companies for the new Awka City, with 3 companies already on site; and putting back on stream 4 of non-functional 21 housing estates inherited by the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC).
So far, so eventful has been Governor Soludo’s one-year journey to transforming Anambra State economically with massive infrastructure investments. If, according to the World Bank, development happens through structural transformation which shifts the balance of economic activity towards higher productivity manufacturing and service sectors, then Soludo is on the right track.
And as the tireless governor sustains his giant infrastructure development strides, Anambra State could well end up being a modern Singaporean wonder after all. This is just the beginning.
Soludo should sustain the current pace of roads and drainage construction. I feel disheartened that it started rather later than earlier. This puts us on the cusp of the rainy season now that his road projects have kicked off. Nonetheless, it should continue somehow.
There is really NO NEED to keep mentioning the names of Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, or UAE in qualifying what is happening in Anambra. It smacks of a deliberate intention to hyper-exaggerate and deceive. We already know Soludo is really trying and doing his best based on the available resources. We are all praying that he sustains the current momentum.
Singapore and Dubai always referenced were created via good governance that attracted investments in those countries. The government even in America cannot build everything. The role of government is merely to CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT through the right policies & basic infrastructure for the private sector to drive development. If Soludo is able to tackle security, poor roads network within key cities and between cities in Anambra, and poor educational and health facilities, the private sector would be attracted to drive developments in housing, agriculture, innovation, and wealth creation.
post=122829082: SOLUDO'S ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER ONE YEAR IN RETROSPECT. ( PART TWO)
THE JOURNEY TO A 'SINGAPOREAN WONDER' IN ANAMBRA STATE!
By Christian ABURIME
In the world today, Asia’s Singapore continues to be referenced and celebrated as the most successful development story that emerged from the 20th century.
Dubbed a ‘little red dot’ on the Asian continent map, Singapore was indeed a tiny island country with little natural resources; a third-world country that got transformed into a prosperous, modern, smart first-world city-state thriving with rapid growth, full employment, life expectancy, education, housing and other socio-economic infrastructure milestones.
But a society does not get transformed in such a phenomenal manner without a transformative agent.
Behind the Singapore success story was the larger-than-life reputation of its world-respected former president, Lee Kuan Yew. It was Yew who, through his ingenious vision and astute leadership, led the economic transformation of Singapore into a modern-day wonder.
Lee Kuan Yew passed away in 2015, but his legacy thrives on. No doubt, the world will continue to witness amazing stories like those of Singapore and Yew in diverse measures.
Closer home, comes the big question: will Anambra State become a Singaporean marvel under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo?
Well, if the last one year of performance in infrastructure development by the governor is anything to go by, a Singaporean experience is surely in the offing in Anambra State
As an accomplished economist who had served as a presidential economic adviser and Central Bank Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo came to become the Governor of Anambra State with a rich hindsight that there cannot be economic transformation without infrastructure investments.
Today in our series of x-raying his achievements under one year, we shall examine his score card in that regard. On hitting the ground sprinting from his first day of being sworn in as governor, Soludo has had a crystal clear vision which was well spelt out in his now famous manifesto, (The People's Manifesto). And one of the core areas he addressed succinctly was to transform Anambra State into “a livable and prosperous smart megacity” and “Africa’s new axis of sustainable prosperity”.
A place where people, Ndi Anambra and visitors alike, would prefer to live, learn, work, invest, relax and enjoy.
In order to actualize that grand vision, the economist in Soludo knew that he must invest massively in critical infrastructure. True to his vision, the governor took off aggressively under one of his 5-Solution policy pillars, namely Infrastructure and Economic Transformation.
Within 12 months, Soludo’s Anambra became what observers now routinely call a ‘huge construction site’. It is neither tales by moonlight nor playing to the gallery. It is a verifiable daylight reality of concrete achievements by a quiet achiever despite the obfuscating aura of political distractions and controversies cast around him by his traducers.
For a start, Governor Soludo early last year declared a state of emergency on roads in order to improve road infrastructure throughout the state. Swinging into action, he awarded and flagged off 261 km road contracts crisscrossing all the 21 local government areas of Anambra State.
Today, some of the awarded road constructions have been completed while others are under various stages of completion. Even more reassuring is that the road projects come with complementary full-scale desilting of drainages and are designed to last at least 20 years! In addition to major road constructions, reconstructions and rehabilitations, the Soludo administration also embarked on palliative works on many roads across the state, thereby making them motorable for Ndi Anambra as was enjoyed during the last festive season. With the improving road infrastructure, Anambra’s economy is being primed for robust flourishing.
Taking the journey of infrastructure and economic transformation further, Governor Soludo also latched on to improving power supply. His government developed a clear road map to 24/7 electricity in Anambra State, being executed in collaboration with power sector partners with the ultimate goal of providing regular power in key cities over the next 2 years. For instance, the government signed an MOU with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), thus building a collaborative pact that has engendered the steadily improving power supply across Anambra State till date.
In fact, some feeders in the state are now receiving 22 hours of power every day. Aside that, the Soludo government has also converted over 6,380 diesel-powered streetlights to solar to sustainably keep our streets well lit at night at minimum cost.
What is more, the Phase 2 of converting additional 11,000 more street lights to solar is underway. When an improved power supply meets a state of improved security, the result is a buoyant night economy already emerging in Anambra!
The plan encompasses the modernization of water transportation for riverside areas in the state; the construction of bus terminals at Ekwulobia, Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi; strict adherence to civil aviation safety and operational standards at the airport; refurbishment and repair of existing boats and water buses; continuing work to complete the Anambra International Airport; completing a feasibility study for sky train with a pilot in Onitsha, with exploring financing options; and rejuvenating Anambra Transport Management Agency to address the traffic chaos. Still, the journey goes on.
From Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, comes the famous line: ‘water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink’. In Anambra State, water is everywhere around us too but is often not clean or safe enough for Ndi Anambra to drink and use for other purposes. Yet, water is an essential part of any economic transformation. That is why the Soludo government also kept faith with improving water resources for the people.
Thus, the government conducted hydrogeological and hydrological mapping of the state; developed a concession plan for water supply in Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala, Aguata and other areas; rehabilitated and resuscitated water supply to the state Secretariat Complex; and collaborated with UNICEF to rehabilitate 98 hand pump boreholes in the 7 LGAs.
If usable water availability is essential, food security is indispensable. This brings us to the agriculture aspect of Soludo’s economic transformation journey.
Conscious of the need for healthy nutrition, Governor Soludo launched a regenerative agriculture project aimed at producing natural (organic) food through sustainable means. He went further to attract donor agency funded Small Holder Horticultural Empowerment Project (SHEP) to Anambra. He embarked on a new Palm and Coconut revolution drive by procuring and distributing 220,000 oil palm seedlings and 150,000 coconut seedlings for poverty alleviation and economic growth.
Also procured and distributed were Ukwa (1000 seedlings), Ogbono (1000 seedlings), Akilu (1000 seedlings), Guava (1000 seedlings) and Sour Sop (1000 seedlings).
And to cap the massive support to Anambra farmers, the Soludo administration undertook mass distribution of free farm inputs to farmers through the FADAMA Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FADAMA CARES) which included fertilizers, cassava stems, poultry feeds, day-old chicks (DOCs), improved rice seeds, herbicides and pesticides.
Food security is growing. But that’s not all. Someone once said that industry is fortune’s right hand. It is true. How would the economic transformation of Anambra State be complete without a thriving industry?
How would Anambra attain a Singaporean prosperity without industrial flourishing? Or how would Ndi Anambra make a fortune out of opportunities without industrialization? This made the Soludo government to also prioritize huge infrastructure investments in industry.
First, his government developed a framework for the development of industrial cities that will catalyze rapid economic growth of the state. Then, 53 hectares of land have been acquired in Ukpo (more expected from Ukwulu to make 100 hectares) for the development of an export emporium and Africa’s largest shopping mall.
The Soludo government has further embarked on the construction of the wholesale drug market at Oba to become the largest open drug distribution market in Africa, as well as started the clearing of a 200 hectares Anambra State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub in Ogboji to house over 100 pharmaceutical companies, a pharmaceutical school and so on.
Digitally, to enable the vision and emergence of Anambra as a connected, modern, smart megacity, the Soludo administration has commenced the construction of 2,000km of fibre optic ducts to ensure last mile connectivity. Imagine the resultant digital economy possibilities! Other infrastructure investments include designing and commencing the construction of a Leisure/Entertainment hub around Agulu Lake (African Disneyland); acquiring about 250 hectares of land and signing a PPP agreement with 7 companies for the new Awka City, with 3 companies already on site; and putting back on stream 4 of non-functional 21 housing estates inherited by the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation (ASHDC).
So far, so eventful has been Governor Soludo’s one-year journey to transforming Anambra State economically with massive infrastructure investments. If, according to the World Bank, development happens through structural transformation which shifts the balance of economic activity towards higher productivity manufacturing and service sectors, then Soludo is on the right track.
And as the tireless governor sustains his giant infrastructure development strides, Anambra State could well end up being a modern Singaporean wonder after all. This is just the beginning.
Soludo should keep his road contractors on their toes. Reports have it that 50% of the road projects across the state are grounded. Contractors ain’t doing anything. What’s really happening?
What will it take us to sweet our roads to look neat?? What will it take Anambra state Government to dualize 3-3 nkwelle road which is new Onitsha.. For road maintenance and beautification ,Anambra state is zero..neat well marked roads makes city looks descent and attractive....
gariepinus: What will it take us to sweet our roads to look neat?? What will it take Anambra state Government to dualize 3-3 nkwelle road which is new Onitsha.. For road maintenance and beautification ,Anambra state is zero..neat well marked roads makes city looks descent and attractive....
Cool music. Comedian Ezegetive is a content creator from enugu state but born and bread in Onitsha. He has made money and bought a house at Hillview estate Onitsha
They should not forget the Airport City and the Orient modular refineries part of this plan. Hopefully, Prof Soludo will have the courage to launch the airport city project and refinery timely in his administration.
I love the Accra airport city and how they have continued to use that area of Accra to launch Ghana's economic resurgence. Those who have recently visited Ghana should upload the Accra Airport city and the types of buildings and hotels being constructed within it. What I love about the Accra Airport city area is that it was purpose-planned by Ghana for a long time, and gradually developed over several years. So no unplanned building structures were allowed within the Accra airport city even after so many years of its development.
Today, the Accra airport city is a better hub for foreign businesses in Ghana more than the Accra central business district. That is the power of planning a virgin area from the start. Anambra airport city should imbibe this strategy and map out specific structures in specific areas of the Anambra airport city.
hammer567: WE HAVE BUILT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HOST TD JAKE IN SE ZONE AND THAT INCLUDES VISIT TO RIVERS AND DELTA STATE TOO.
HOWEVER, ANAMBRA GOVERNOR MUST BE THE HOST, SE GOVERNORS HIS CO HOST WITH SS/SW GOVERNORS AS GUEST.
I HOPE ANAMBRA WONT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY AND EBONYI GRAB IT.
THE JAMAICANS KEPT TALKING ABOUT CUTTING TIES WITH THE QUEEN BUT BARBADOS BEAT THEM TO IT AND HISTORY WILL FOREVER REMEMBER BARBADOS AS THE FIRST TO CUT TIES WITH BRITAIN.
New hospital project at St Charles Borromeo hospital Onitsha
It was good and fruitful meeting with His Excellency Azbej Tristan, State Secretary for Persecuted Christians, and Hungary Helps, in his Budapest Office, today. Before the meeting, Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, prayed for some staff in Hungary Foreign Affairs Ministry, in their Private Chapel, he used them as point of contact to pray for, and appreciate the good people of Hungary. We look forward to welcoming the Secretary of State, in Nigeria for Commissioning of Hungary Helps Sponsored Project at St Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Onitsha Complex. Together-we-can-do-better!!!
Aston Malt is a product of Eastern Distilleries & Food Industries Onitsha, which is widely known as a top manufacturing company in Nigeria established back in 1994. Aston malt carries the same round logo as all EDFI products worldwide which creates a sense of identification in any part of the world.
Aston Malt is bringing to the world a healthy satisfaction with a premium look that can be enjoyed on the go. To be at your finest, go for a healthy refreshment which revitalizes your body.
Wow! This is massive. I was thinking that they will be towing towards carbonate drink(mineral) like Rc, Big cola etc but going for malt drinks is the best more especially if they can reduce the price for it to penetrate the market
I wish some of the roads were dualized to avoid demolishing people's properties in the future in the name of dualization because as it is now people will build up along the roads.
