₦airaland Forum

With Anambra State having a population growth rate of 2.21% and over 60% of its population living in urban areas, it is a no brainer that the pressure on public infrastructure in urban areas – which like most major cities in Nigeria had not followed a strict masterplan over the years – would be enormous. So, while the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration is repurposing existing urban areas in Anambra, the administration has concluded the land acquisition, masterplan and engineering designs for the construction of three brand-new smart mega cities, which will be known as Awka 2.0, Onitsha 2.0 and the Anambra Mixed Used Industrial City (AMIC).
Actually, Africa’s major cities – megacities such as Kinshasa, Cairo and Lagos – are well known for poor planning and in many cases haphazard developments. For example, in some cities in Nigeria many developers have built new homes on waterways and on areas originally marked as green areas. Today, in some major cities in Africa, it would be almost impossible to provide well reticulated underground sewage, gas, electrical and water systems in built-up areas. Reason: many town planners and government agencies might not have considered that dedicated areas for these services ought to have been provided for before the commencement of any building. And to be fair to some private developers, you cannot blame them for this negligence in some cases.
When the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration started the construction of the Ekwulobia Flyover – which is about one of the longest flyovers in the south east and would be completed in a few weeks – over 500 houses had encroached on the flyover’s right of way. The case was the same when the superhighway linking Imo State through Awka was started a few months ago. In fact, the preliminary design of Anambra’s rail masterplan by the Canadian company, CPCS Transcom Limited, revealed that over 5,000 buildings were in the right of way of the railway system which would crisscross Anambra’s major cities – Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Ekwulobia. In the on-going water reticulation works in major cities in Anambra, engineers found out that many developers had built on underground waterlines that were constructed in the 80s, apparently because many people grew up to see them as not functioning. (Some gen-Z and millennials might not even know that there was a point in Nigeria’s history when many of our public water systems were functional).

It is not going to be easy to turn some of our present cities in Nigeria into the kind of cities we see in Europe. But Anambra has a plan which, of course, has a human face. The government plans to work with communities to remodel and develop poorly planned communities in a manner that would not impact peoples’ properties and livelihood. But the grand plan is to build brand new smart and eco-friendly cities in virgin lands. In fact, it is easier to start from the scratch in some cases: We see this in the new capital cities being built in Egypt and Indonesia.
The acquisition of 5,000 hectares of land has already been completed along the Amansea -Ufuma road for a brand-new and eco-friendly city known as Awka 2.0. This new city will be home to over 500,000 people (i.e. an average population density of 100 persons per hectare). The city will have well-planned sewage, fibre optics, drainage and power facilities. The masterplan is almost complete and the vision is to have a smart city.
The same applies to the new city in the bank of the River Niger that would be known as the Onitsha 2.0. The acquisition of 4,000 hectares of land in the proposed location of the city is almost complete. The plan is to have a waterfront smart city that would power the economic activities of Onitsha, which is home to the biggest market in West Africa. With Onitsha 2.0, the role Canary Wharf plays in the city of London comes to mind.
The third city is a free-trade zone known as the Anambra Mixed Used Industrial City (AMIC). The engineering design and planning for this city is almost complete. AMIC will be located in the Orumba North District of Anambra on a 4,000-hectare piece of land. AMIC will be developed for the manufacturing of industrial components. It will have agro and food processing plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, automobile assembly plants, textile industries and various manufacturing outfits with state-of-the-art infrastructure in order to attract and support investments.
With Anambra State having a population growth rate of 2.21% and over 60% of its population living in urban areas, it is a no brainer that the pressure on public infrastructure in urban areas – which like most major cities in Nigeria had not followed a strict masterplan over the years – would be enormous. So, while the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration is repurposing existing urban areas in Anambra, the administration has concluded the land acquisition, masterplan and engineering designs for the construction of three brand-new smart mega cities, which will be known as Awka 2.0, Onitsha 2.0 and the Anambra Mixed Used Industrial City (AMIC).
Actually, Africa’s major cities – megacities such as Kinshasa, Cairo and Lagos – are well known for poor planning and in many cases haphazard developments. For example, in some cities in Nigeria many developers have built new homes on waterways and on areas originally marked as green areas. Today, in some major cities in Africa, it would be almost impossible to provide well reticulated underground sewage, gas, electrical and water systems in built-up areas. Reason: many town planners and government agencies might not have considered that dedicated areas for these services ought to have been provided for before the commencement of any building. And to be fair to some private developers, you cannot blame them for this negligence in some cases.
When the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration started the construction of the Ekwulobia Flyover – which is about one of the longest flyovers in the south east and would be completed in a few weeks – over 500 houses had encroached on the flyover’s right of way. The case was the same when the superhighway linking Imo State through Awka was started a few months ago. In fact, the preliminary design of Anambra’s rail masterplan by the Canadian company, CPCS Transcom Limited, revealed that over 5,000 buildings were in the right of way of the railway system which would crisscross Anambra’s major cities – Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Ekwulobia. In the on-going water reticulation works in major cities in Anambra, engineers found out that many developers had built on underground waterlines that were constructed in the 80s, apparently because many people grew up to see them as not functioning. (Some gen-Z and millennials might not even know that there was a point in Nigeria’s history when many of our public water systems were functional).
It is not going to be easy to turn some of our present cities in Nigeria into the kind of cities we see in Europe. But Anambra has a plan which, of course, has a human face. The government plans to work with communities to remodel and develop poorly planned communities in a manner that would not impact peoples’ properties and livelihood. But the grand plan is to build brand new smart and eco-friendly cities in virgin lands. In fact, it is easier to start from the scratch in some cases: We see this in the new capital cities being built in Egypt and Indonesia.
The acquisition of 5,000 hectares of land has already been completed along the Amansea -Ufuma road for a brand-new and eco-friendly city known as Awka 2.0. This new city will be home to over 500,000 people (i.e. an average population density of 100 persons per hectare). The city will have well-planned sewage, fibre optics, drainage and power facilities. The masterplan is almost complete and the vision is to have a smart city. The same applies to the new city in the bank of the River Niger that would be known as the Onitsha 2.0. The acquisition of 4,000 hectares of land in the proposed location of the city is almost complete. The plan is to have a waterfront smart city that would power the economic activities of Onitsha, which is home to the biggest market in West Africa. With Onitsha 2.0, the role Canary Wharf plays in the city of London comes to mind.
The third city is a free-trade zone known as the Anambra Mixed Used Industrial City (AMIC). The engineering design and planning for this city is almost complete. AMIC will be located in the Orumba North District of Anambra on a 4,000-hectare piece of land. AMIC will be developed for the manufacturing of industrial components. It will have agro and food processing plants, pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, automobile assembly plants, textile industries and various manufacturing outfits with state-of-the-art infrastructure in order to attract and support investments.
These cities fall within the grand vision of Governor Soludo to re-purpose Anambra. Nobody says it is going to be easy but Governor Soludo is determined to change the narrative in the south east. The plan is to have a private sector-led development model with the state government providing all the necessary supports and some investments as well. Issues that have plagued housing and infrastructural development in Nigeria, such as the huddles in getting titles, right of way issues, community resistance and the lack of harmonized building codes, will be addressed in the proposed development of these new cities.
Anambra plans to attract big businesses – big national and global companies – to its new smart cities. These big investments will catalyze economic growth and provide the capital for the smart cities of our dream in Anambra. The new cities will create millions of jobs and lift millions of people out of poverty, as well. Fundamentally, issues such as power generation and the security of the region are aggressively being addressed, as these will also impact on the pace of growth of the new cities. In the coming months, Anambra’s electricity law and policies will be unveiled. In terms of security, the government is using a combination of ‘community policing’ and tech to make Anambra safer. Anambra is safe and ready for business.
The future of Anambra and the south east is bright! This is a good time to invest in the new cities in Anambra.

Nwankwo is the special adviser to Soludo on special projects.
https://www.thecable.ng/soludos-eco-friendly-and-smart-cities-are-the-next-big-thing-in-the-south-east/amp/

nice one
at least you people are copying something good from Jagaban of Lagos

jyz200:
nice one
at least you people are copying something good from Jagaban of Lagos

Tinubu should have replicated the same in his home state, since he is the one that developed Lagos

Very revealing. Now, I understand the reason for many instances of demolition though I still think that demolition should be done with more of human face.

Bestmanfornow:
Tinubu should have replicated the same in his home state, since he is the one that developed Lagos

jyz200:
nice one
at least you people are copying something good from Jagaban of Lagos

Hi guys!
Isn't it too low and lazy of us to be turning every learning opportunity into toxic ethnic banters that benefit no one? Shouldn't this be an opportunity to exchange ideas among young people seeking a better country? Are you sure we are not being worked against ourselves? We need to change this attitude because it's behind at least 80% of our problems in this country.

Nlfpmod.

Toh

Make we see how far

Salewa97:
Toh

Make we see how far

Just they watch

I know most you don't know road to Anambra state just few pics, the state now is building three new smart cities outside the old cities

Benefit of electing a smart and intelligent leader and not allowing touts to govern a state.

More

Na for this same Anambra I dey live where touts and agbero reign unabated making life easy for ordinary people

Even after you pay the usual money into the state coffers, the agbero will still terrorise you.

Do we talk about the roads that are dead traps. You people are just lying up and down

michlins:
Na for this same Anambra I dey live where touts and agbero reign unabated making life easy for ordinary people

Even after you pay the usual money into the state coffers, the agbero will still terrorise you.

Do we talk about the roads that are dead traps. You people are just lying up and down

Lie mohamed is that you?
I dey anambra currently
See new projects and roads everywhere.
From awka going to Uga is being dualised
From ufuma to Amansea has been completed less than 10 mins to get to awka
Unizik junction to okpuno done
Ekwulobia to Nnewi ongoing
Pharmaceutical hub ongoing
I sure say awka is getting plenty attention too
Awa road done
Isulo to ogbunka ongoing
Many many projects all at once, without borrowing and without media fanfare.
Where you dey for anambra?
Talk make I come there before I ball in aba or enugu

Where are the projects located? Awka or Anambra state?

IduNaOba:
Lie mohamed is that you?
I dey anambra currently
See new projects and roads everywhere.
From awka going to Uga is being dualised
From ufuma to Amansea has been completed less than 10 mins to get to awka
Unizik junction to okpuno done
Ekwulobia to Nnewi ongoing
Pharmaceutical hub ongoing
I sure say awka is getting plenty attention too
Awa road done
Isulo to ogbunka ongoing
Many many projects all at once, without borrowing and without media fanfare.
Where you dey for anambra?
Talk make I come there before I ball in aba or enugu

Don't mind the low life

I just wish Anambra will just keep it's achievement quiet without saying much....d truth is, if Anambra continue dis way....it will be one of d biggest n finest city in west Africa but a lot has to be done especially with insecurity

Shadomaan7:
Where are the projects located? Awka or Anambra state?

Feed your eyes he is doing all of these without borrowing


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-IWGWztdjo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToUNM_rPpJ8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a78449Left8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcAyHPOzLG8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5D7BokKh2E


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cquo3p2Cw3w


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-wJdSzgbYo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxNTB8webzo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxN8WiVI2kQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SZ8q9SZ4SM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx4v7F45wbo

IduNaOba:
Lie mohamed is that you?
I dey anambra currently
See new projects and roads everywhere.
From awka going to Uga is being dualised
From ufuma to Amansea has been completed less than 10 mins to get to awka
Unizik junction to okpuno done
Ekwulobia to Nnewi ongoing
Pharmaceutical hub ongoing
I sure say awka is getting plenty attention too
Awa road done
Isulo to ogbunka ongoing
Many many projects all at once, without borrowing and without media fanfare.
Where you dey for anambra?
Talk make I come there before I ball in aba or enugu

I plied this road going to Enugu on Thursday or Friday last week. The pace of the construction was so slow and quality of works done too cheap and poor. What about Nnewi to nnobi road that is completely avoided by public transport that they now use nnobi towards abatete thereby wasting time and fuel. What's funny is that this same administration has fixed nnobi nnokwa road and it's currently unusable because of the poor quality of works done. Nnewi towards ozubulu is still in a terrible state. What about the inter Nnewi roads that are so terrible and there's absolutely nothing anyone is doing about it that is serious.

Before you remind me that Nnewi isn't the only town in Anambra, this particular town is a cash cow for the state with the insane amount of IGR they generate for the state. Soludo administration is just the more you look, the less you see.

Bestmanfornow:
Don't mind the low life

while my job is creating jobs for people in Anambra, your job is to whitewash and defend the government.

Set up a simple business and see the suffering of entrepreneurs in current Anambra State.

I don't even want to talk about the insecurity in Anambra State. That one is a forgotten problem. Kidnapping is just a daily occurrence. If half of what happens in Anambra makes it to the internet, you can mistake here for Afghanistan

michlins:
I plied this road going to Enugu on Thursday or Friday last week. The pace of the construction was so slow and quality of works done too cheap and poor. What about Nnewi to nnobi road that is completely avoided by public transport that they now use nnobi towards abatete thereby wasting time and fuel. What's funny is that this same administration has fixed nnobi nnokwa road and it's currently unusable because of the poor quality of works done. Nnewi towards ozubulu is still in a terrible state. What about the inter Nnewi roads that are so terrible and there's absolutely nothing anyone is doing about it that is serious.

Before you remind me that Nnewi isn't the only town in Anambra, this particular town is a cash cow for the state with the insane amount of IGR they generate for the state. Soludo administration is just the more you look, the less you see.

Bitter frustrated man you will keep crying here 🤣🤣

Bestmanfornow:
Bitter frustrated man you will keep crying here 🤣🤣

oga rebute what I just said without insults. Any opinion against the government is termed as bitter. So typical of APC and Tinubu administration. Same thing you're displaying here

Soludo is doing well. I bet the proposed Onitsha canary wharf will sell faster than the one planned in asaba. However he needs to do more on the environment especially in onitsha by mandating the soon-to-be-elected local government councils to engage road sweepers on the Expressway that runs through the onitsha metropolis as that is the gateway to the state and it should be looking much better. He should also build more motorparks along the express akin to the Obiano motor park in order to curtail all manner of illegal parks dotting the stretch of the road . He can demolish the Eastern Academy school by Upper Iweka and convert it to a motorpark as it is even wrong to have a secondary school along that busy corridor. Overall Soludo is doing well. He will be re-elected

.

michlins:
while my job is creating jobs for people in Anambra, your job is to whitewash and defend the government.

Set up a simple business and see the suffering of entrepreneurs in current Anambra State.

I don't even want to talk about the insecurity in Anambra State. That one is a forgotten problem. Kidnapping is just a daily occurrence. If half of what happens in Anambra makes it to the internet, you can mistake here for Afghanistan

The chairman of Ogbete market in Enugu was killed yesterday. UNN staff, businessmen etc are being kidnapped and killed in Enugu as if they are fowl, Enugu farmers can't go to farm because of fear of Fulani herdsmen but your concern is Anambra that is much safer and secured than Enugu state . Ndo.

Ezewuzie01:
The chairman of Ogbete market in Enugu was killed yesterday. UNN staff, businessmen etc are being kidnapped and killes in Enugu as if they are fowl, Enugu farmers can't go to farm because of fear of Fulani herdsmen but your concern is Anambra that is much safer and secured than Enugu state . Ndo.

I live in Anambra State. Nnewi precisely so much of my concern is here in Anambra.

Tomorrow is Monday and everyone will stay at home again but we have a governor who swore to protect lives and properties and ensure our freedom.

To think that I campaigned and voted for this man in the last election eh

Ezewuzie01:
The chairman of Ogbete market in Enugu was killed yesterday. UNN staff, businessmen etc are being kidnapped and killes in Enugu as if they are fowl, Enugu farmers can't go to farm because of fear of Fulani herdsmen but your concern is Anambra that is much safer and secured than Enugu state . Ndo.

This is one of the bitter minds that massive developments happening in Anambra is giving sleepless nights, but we pass them, they never wish us well

michlins:
I live in Anambra State. Nnewi precisely so much of my concern is here in Anambra.

Tomorrow is Monday and everyone will stay at home again but we have a governor who swore to protect lives and properties and ensure our freedom.

To think that I campaigned and voted for this man in the last election eh

Why not go to Enugu that you claim is safer, tell me that your state doesn't observe sit at home? The governor can't drag people in Nnewi and Onitsha out to do business, Sit at home doesn't exist in Awka

michlins:
I live in Anambra State. Nnewi precisely so much of my concern is here in Anambra.

Tomorrow is Monday and everyone will stay at home again but we have a governor who swore to protect lives and properties and ensure our freedom.

To think that I campaigned and voted for this man in the last election eh

Go and sleep with your silly lies. Opposition doesn't exist in Anambra state. Even demented Peter Obi and his labourers in vain party has given up having seen the popularity of Soludo. APGA will win local government election 21/21 next two weeks. Hope you have voters card to vote?

Perhaps the governors in Nigeria could consider completing existing projects that would offer direct value to the community.
For instance, rather than building new structures that are usless, Maintenance of existing Projects is the key
Governor Umahi of Ebonyi State could have focused on developing essential infrastructures to benefit the citizens. Instead, He built a useless Airport.
IT IS important to prioritize projects that contribute to the overall development and well-being of the community.
Soludo should be wise.

Anambrast1son don meet trailer wey pass..

This guy really exposed that den of terrorists kingdom...
Nothing wey you fit tell me about alaigbo...
Alaigbo Naa real shithole....My wife is from Owerri... municipal..

Bestmanfornow:
Why not go to Enugu that you claim is safer, tell me that your state doesn't observe sit at home? The governor can't drag people in Nnewi and Onitsha out to do business, Sit at home doesn't exist in Awka

but cult clashes are taking lives daily in Awka. Guarantee the safety of people and they will come out on Monday. Before the death of chieloka, we managed to come out on Monday around 10am but that's in the past now.

At the bolded, when a Yoruba guy says something like this, you remind him one Nigeria and how they insult visitors. But you're saying same thing to a fellow Igbo man.

I born born and bred in Nnewi here. I have built my business here so Anambra is my home state.

Ezewuzie01:
The chairman of Ogbete market in Enugu was killed yesterday. UNN staff, businessmen etc are being kidnapped and killed in Enugu as if they are fowl, Enugu farmers can't go to farm because of fear of Fulani herdsmen but your concern is Anambra that is much safer and secured than Enugu state . Ndo.

I can tell you for free that you are a very stvpid fellow. Anybody seeing your w0rthless post will even think you're Igbo in the first instance. This divide and conquer is dead on arrival. Face your ilorin that has already been conquered. Uselezz Fulani slave.

Ezewuzie01:
Go and sleep with your silly lies. Opposition doesn't exist in Anambra state. Even demented Peter Obi and his labourers in vain party has given up having seen the popularity of Soludo. APGA will win local government election 21/21 next two weeks. Hope you have voters card to vote?

and that's what you political jobbers really know to do. Calculate who wins the next election because that's where you get your meal comes from.

How about dividends of the mandate soludo is holding like security of lives and properties,ease of doing business without harassment from agbero who have multiplied since he came to power. How about the government you defend focusing on that and not who wins the next election

Bestmanfornow:
This is one of the bitter minds that massive developments happening in Anambra is giving sleepless nights, but we pass them, they never wish us well

The person you are quoting is not Igbo oga. He's only loving soludo for now because he's yet to declare interest in presidency. The day he dares to declare intention you would see the other side of him. The same idi0t you think is for you now is aggressively against Peter Obi and he's supposed to be Igbo and a lover of Anambra. Dey there make pant dey wear you

Bestmanfornow:
This is one of the bitter minds that massive developments happening in Anambra is giving sleepless nights, but we pass them, they never wish us well

this is how you hyped Obiano to high heavens and immediately he finished his tenure he ran away. Now he's in EFCC custody. Hope you didn't abandon but visited him while he was there.

If only we have good prosecutors in Nigeria,we would have known the number of years he will get. Keep hyping this one too