₦airaland Forum

abuzz33:
What's the GDP of Indianapolis? Let me answer for you. $199 billion or 20x that of Anambra state. Indiana city budget is $1.9 billion. Anambras entire state revenue is less than $200m.

Anambra is where a lot of US states were 100 years ago and if you want to see what it looked like then see:

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2018/07/18/nostalgic-look-indianapolis-through-decades/795254002/

Sometimes we need to use common sense in projects. You dont even have central bus terminal like many European countries and airport is your priority. When oyibo say Africans no get sense I am starting to believe it.

Abufo:
As far as this your post is concerned you are just being obscure and shifting arguments! Its not about how big an economy is..........its about strategic planning and expected outcomes!

Go and dig out Soludo's manifesto and the long term plans........the Anambra mixed use project is prominent in the paper! Your criticism is misplaced and definitely in bad faith

I

abuzz33:
Again I am starting to question people's intelligence on this matter. I was at the Anambra airport last month to experience its one or two flights a day. I have been to tons of airports worldwide and to me the big terminal building was unnecessary grandeur because its traffic resembles some of the ones I've been in tiny countries or cities where the terminal is a small hall.

That airport which costs the state government billions in upkeep a year was not needed when asaba served Onitsha quite nicely and Enugu served Awka. That money could have been channeled to far more important things.

Building a second airport is sheer stupidity. Call it aerotropolis or whatever fancy term but its total nonsense just like the five story ICC hotel when you cant even cut grass in front of the ICC or organize more than 5 events there that are not political about sharing rice.

Feel free to insult me but at the end na ourself we disgrace with this stupidity. From a whole "professor". Its incredible.

abuzz33:
Again I am starting to question people's intelligence on this matter. I was at the Anambra airport last month to experience its one or two flights a day. I have been to tons of airports worldwide and to me the big terminal building was unnecessary grandeur because its traffic resembles some of the ones I've been in tiny countries or cities where the terminal is a small hall.

That airport which costs the state government billions in upkeep a year was not needed when asaba served Onitsha quite nicely and Enugu served Awka. That money could have been channeled to far more important things.

Building a second airport is sheer stupidity. Call it aerotropolis or whatever fancy term but its total nonsense just like the five story ICC hotel when you cant even cut grass in front of the ICC or organize more than 5 events there that are not political about sharing rice.

Feel free to insult me but at the end na ourself we disgrace with this stupidity. From a whole "professor". Its incredible.

Abufo:
As far as this your post is concerned you are just being obscure and shifting arguments! Its not about how big an economy is..........its about strategic planning and expected outcomes!

Go and dig out Soludo's manifesto and the long term plans........the Anambra mixed use project is prominent in the paper! Your criticism is misplaced and definitely in bad faith

I

Abufo:
You are Professor Onyeagwanam on this issue! Are you saying you are better than Soludo in strategic planning ...and you know more of Indianapolis than myself...a 15 year resident of Indiana state..Oga you do not know it all! In fact your views can be quite pedestrian and unrealistic at times!

Abufo:
You are Professor Onyeagwanam on this issue! Are you saying you are better than Soludo in strategic planning ...and you know more of Indianapolis than myself...a 15 year resident of Indiana state..Oga you do not know it all! In fact your views can be quite pedestrian and unrealistic at times!

abuzz33:
I am not professor anything. I have common sense and . You are a 15 year resident of Indianapolis. Do you understand priorities? Do you understand the term putting the cart before the horse?
There are loads of experienced Nigerians in the aviation sector who would give this our Professor sound advice. Deborah Flint thats in charge of Toronto Pearson is part Nigerian.

ANSMEDIA:
Ranking by eastern states. BUDGIT report sub national developmental report.

abuzz33:
Again I am starting to question people's intelligence on this matter. I was at the Anambra airport last month to experience its one or two flights a day. I have been to tons of airports worldwide and to me the big terminal building was unnecessary grandeur because its traffic resembles some of the ones I've been in tiny countries or cities where the terminal is a small hall.

That airport which costs the state government billions in upkeep a year was not needed when asaba served Onitsha quite nicely and Enugu served Awka. That money could have been channeled to far more important things.

Building a second airport is sheer stupidity. Call it aerotropolis or whatever fancy term but its total nonsense just like the five story ICC hotel when you cant even cut grass in front of the ICC or organize more than 5 events there that are not political about sharing rice.

Feel free to insult me but at the end na ourself we disgrace with this stupidity. From a whole "professor". Its incredible.

OreMI22:
The central impediment facing this generation is, an inability to think beyond the economic models we inherited. After independence, our forefathers were predominantly farmers, but they understood that as the population grew, agriculture alone would not be sufficient; they therefore expanded into commerce and built major trading centres such as Onitsha Main Market, Ogbete Market and, later, Ariaria International Market. These markets became engines of commerce and created entirely new sources of income beyond farming. Ariaria, for example, evolved into a major manufacturing and trading centre, particularly for shoes and leather goods, while Onitsha Main Market became a major regional distribution hub.

The opportunity before the Igbo today is to make the next economic leap: develop reliable and affordable electricity for industrialisation, efficient road, rail and air transportation for logistics and trade, and world-class tourism and hospitality infrastructure. Fortunately, we have abundant coal and gas in the region, and Governors Peter Mbah and Alex Otti appear to understand this broader economic equation. Mbah's economic strategy explicitly identifies energy, transportation and logistics, ICT, tourism and hospitality as priority sectors, while his administration is developing an independent electricity market and major road, rail and transport infrastructure. Otti has similarly linked reliable electricity, road infrastructure, industrial parks, market modernisation and hospitality to Abia's investment strategy; his administration reports near-24-hour electricity in the Aba ring-fenced area and is modernising Ariaria Market, while a five-star Radisson Blu-linked Enyimba Hotel is being developed in Aba. This is the kind of strategic thinking that can transform the Southeast from a region of traders into a region that manufactures, distributes, hosts, transports, innovates and exports.

To be fair, Governor Soludo also appears to have a clear economic strategy for Anambra. His efforts to connect the state's major cities with modern dual-carriage roads, modernise Onitsha Main Market and promote digital innovation can potentially strengthen Anambra's position as a commercial and investment destination. The next logical step is to ensure that Awka and Onitsha have world-class hotels and conference facilities capable of accommodating investors, executives and tourists. This is why the Anambra International Conference Centre (ICC) Hotel is important: infrastructure that brings investors and major events into the state must be complemented by quality accommodation and hospitality. Enugu is already pursuing this model, including a planned 300-plus-room five-star hotel adjacent to its ICC.

My only major disagreement with Soludo is therefore the scale and sequencing of priorities, particularly the decision to pursue a second airport before completing other infrastructure that could generate economic returns much sooner. I would strongly support acquiring and banking the land for a future second airport so that it remains available when the existing airport eventually reaches capacity. But building the airport decades before the demand exists risks tying up scarce capital that could instead be invested today in electricity, roads, markets modernization, logistics, hotels, tourism and industrial infrastructure. The question is not whether Anambra will eventually need another airport; it is whether building it now is the best use of the state's limited resources.

ANSMEDIA:
@OreMI22

This is the same hype of Otti and Mbah as always. The little electricity we see today in Aba is as a result of Geometric, it is just coincidental that it started working in Ottis tenure after haven been under construction for twenty years.

As for Mbah, I haven’t seen what that man has done differently from his predecessor. He has continued to circle around Enugu metropolis and haven’t ventured development outside the Enugu town to other areas of Enugu state. He hasn’t established any idea towards attracting investors to Enugu state. Poverty rate is still high in Enugu state compare to Anambra. Literacy rate is still low compare to Anambra. GDP, HDI, VAT, overall economy growth is still low compare to Anambra. He has succeeded in completing the Enugu ICC that has been under construction for twenty years, though quite small compare to Awka ICC. He had acquired refurbished aeroplanes, built substandard schools and bus terminals that have now seen the sorry state. We have seen one of the aeroplane and the result recently. This is not considering the humongous debt burden he has thrown the state into, but nonetheless, he is being hyped all over the place. If Mbah name is switched for that of Soludo, the feedback will be total different. Soludo world have been blamed for wasting scarce resources on an unviable aeroplane business, but instead Mbah is being hyped for doing the same thing Okorocha did when he acquired Imo air, today where’s Imo air? Hussai !

Soludo’s main challenge is the media. The fact that Soludo is spearheading Tinubu presidential agenda is already placed him on the wrong side of the media in the east. That’s why no matter what he does right, it is misconstrued.

Anambra second airport is well deserved and this is the right. Soludo is developing mix use industrial city that has approved FTZ by the federal government and it is just next to the Aerotropolis. This is synchronized development that will kickstart the next generation of industrial and economic prosperity in Anambra. My happiness is that these projects are already ongoing !

OreMI22:
You know I respect you a great deal, and my intention is not to engage in propaganda, hearsay, or partisan arguments. As you may know, I live in America, but I have a deep and genuine desire to see Igboland develop and realise its full economic potential. I have therefore followed the manifestos of the various Southeast governors closely and paid close attention to both the projects they have implemented and the areas where their actions have departed from their original promises.

I also support many of Governor Soludo’s projects aimed at giving Anambra a major facelift, particularly his ambitious effort to modernise Onitsha Main Market and restore it as one of West Africa’s premier commercial and shopping destinations. It is a bold and difficult undertaking, and I commend him for having the courage to pursue it despite the inevitable resistance and short-term disruption that such a transformation can create.

The reality is that the Southeast cannot afford to approach development casually. Other regions may be able to spend substantial sums on projects or programmes that do not directly create economic value because they have greater access to Nigeria’s natural-resource revenues and federal allocation. The Southeast does not have that luxury. For us, every major expenditure must be viewed through the lens of wealth creation, productivity, competitiveness and long-term economic sustainability. If we do not deliberately invest in infrastructure and industries that generate wealth, employment and internally generated revenue, we risk falling far behind.

This is why I believe Southeast states must think beyond individual state projects and begin developing regional solutions, particularly an integrated railway network, modern transport and logistics infrastructure, reliable electricity grid powered by new powerstations in various states, and an internationally competitive aviation system. The region also needs to think seriously about establishing a strong regional airline capable of connecting its airports to major domestic and international hubs, rather than simply building airport infrastructure and assuming that international airlines will automatically come. Which never happens because no single state can muster the critical mass of steady international passenger traffic required to attract international airlines. These investments should ultimately support the region's enormous commercial base and strengthen its integration with global markets.

Again, my objective is not to promote one governor over another or to manufacture propaganda for political purposes. I am proud of Hope Uzodinma's recent exploits in Imo building digital hubs, Imo State’s industrialisation strategy, and its Assa North–Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Development Project etc, even if he is an APC governor. I also expected Soludo to implement what he wrote on page 22 of the “Soludo Manifesto – The People’s Manifesto” PDF on Soludo’s website. https://www.chukwumasoludo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/SOLUDO-MANIFESTO.pdf

I am genuinely interested in supporting any policy or project that clearly moves Anambra and the Southeast in the right direction, regardless of which governor initiates it. Conversely, I will strongly oppose projects that appear driven primarily by political ego, prestige or short-term visibility when the same resources could be invested in infrastructure and industries with a clearer and more immediate economic return. The question I believe we should constantly ask is simple: will this investment make our people more productive, attract businesses, create jobs, increase trade and generate sustainable wealth? If the answer is yes, we should support it; if not, we should have the courage to question it.

abuzz33:
I am not professor anything. I have common sense and . You are a 15 year resident of Indianapolis. Do you understand priorities? Do you understand the term putting the cart before the horse?

There are loads of experienced Nigerians in the aviation sector who would give this our Professor sound advice. Deborah Flint thats in charge of Toronto Pearson is part Nigerian.

OreMI22:
You know I respect you a great deal, and my intention is not to engage in propaganda, hearsay, or partisan arguments. As you may know, I live in America, but I have a deep and genuine desire to see Igboland develop and realise its full economic potential. I have therefore followed the manifestos of the various Southeast governors closely and paid close attention to both the projects they have implemented and the areas where their actions have departed from their original promises.

I also support many of Governor Soludo’s projects aimed at giving Anambra a major facelift, particularly his ambitious effort to modernise Onitsha Main Market and restore it as one of West Africa’s premier commercial and shopping destinations. It is a bold and difficult undertaking, and I commend him for having the courage to pursue it despite the inevitable resistance and short-term disruption that such a transformation can create.

The reality is that the Southeast cannot afford to approach development casually. Other regions may be able to spend substantial sums on projects or programmes that do not directly create economic value because they have greater access to Nigeria’s natural-resource revenues and federal allocation. The Southeast does not have that luxury. For us, every major expenditure must be viewed through the lens of wealth creation, productivity, competitiveness and long-term economic sustainability. If we do not deliberately invest in infrastructure and industries that generate wealth, employment and internally generated revenue, we risk falling far behind.

This is why I believe Southeast states must think beyond individual state projects and begin developing regional solutions, particularly an integrated railway network, modern transport and logistics infrastructure, reliable electricity grid powered by new powerstations in various states, and an internationally competitive aviation system. The region also needs to think seriously about establishing a strong regional airline capable of connecting its airports to major domestic and international hubs, rather than simply building airport infrastructure and assuming that international airlines will automatically come. Which never happens because no single state can muster the critical mass of steady international passenger traffic required to attract international airlines. These investments should ultimately support the region's enormous commercial base and strengthen its integration with global markets.

Again, my objective is not to promote one governor over another or to manufacture propaganda for political purposes. I am proud of Hope Uzodinma's recent exploits in Imo building digital hubs, Imo State’s industrialisation strategy, and its Assa North–Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Development Project etc, even if he is an APC governor. I also expected Soludo to implement what he wrote on page 22 of the “Soludo Manifesto – The People’s Manifesto” PDF on Soludo’s website. https://www.chukwumasoludo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/SOLUDO-MANIFESTO.pdf

I am genuinely interested in supporting any policy or project that clearly moves Anambra and the Southeast in the right direction, regardless of which governor initiates it. Conversely, I will strongly oppose projects that appear driven primarily by political ego, prestige or short-term visibility when the same resources could be invested in infrastructure and industries with a clearer and more immediate economic return. That is the reason I disagree with his agenda to build another airport when the first one is functioning below its capacity and yearning for basic facilities. The question I believe we should constantly ask is simple: will this investment make our people more productive, attract businesses, create jobs, increase trade and generate sustainable wealth? If the answer is yes, we should support it; if not, we should have the courage to question it.

Eboofa:
Putting the cart before the horse is exactly how Indiana has been lifted from a backwater state to one of the fastest-growing states in America! They build it first, and investors come in bulk later! I work in Logistics at a relatively new Mount Comfort Business park in Greenfield .......a suburb of Indianapolis.................property investors are buying up farmland and building warehouses for manufacturing and warehousing for mega corporations like Amazon, Walmart,carvan, Toyota etc...............and for your information the Business park or industrial estate has an executive airport..............one of a dozen international, regional and executive airports that are in the Indianapolis area.....................FEDEX has its regional cargo hub in the Indianapolis airport.............you have no idea what you are prattling about...maybe you think everyone is a functional illiterate on this forum!
An Igbo son from Onitsha is running for the post of Mayor of Indianapolis come next year. Architect Vop Osili, by the Grace of God, will emerge the winner! When he wins, tell him to shut down the airports around Indianapolis because there are too many of them! Incidentally, he was a co-designer of the award-winning Indianapolis International Airport! You sound sooo infantile! And it's becoming annoying! FYI, Indiana is, at best, a middle-ranking state economy in the USA...........yet the state is home to over 145 airports, airfields, airparks, etc!......... Soludo is our Governor; let him lead, abeg! na wa you o!

abuzz33:
So if you are Anambra with revenue of around N340b of which N200b is available for capital projects what makes sense:
A. Dump it in an aerotropolis project without any certainty of success.
B. Use it to improve transportation in and around its commercial cities through better roads, public transport, central bus parks to reduce extortion and boost economic activity.
C. Expand power infrastructure supply to commercial areas to attract more investment.
D. Partner with entities to build commercially viable industrial layouts near transport arteries, water supply and security
E. Expand vocational education training programs to boost self employment possibilities for youths in garments, bags, shoes, farming, electronics and auto repair.

abuzz33:
So if you are Anambra with revenue of around N340b of which N200b is available for capital projects what makes sense:

A. Dump it in an aerotropolis project without any certainty of success.

B. Use it to improve transportation in and around its commercial cities through better roads, public transport, central bus parks to reduce extortion and boost economic activity.

C. Expand power infrastructure supply to commercial areas to attract more investment.

D. Partner with entities to build commercially viable industrial layouts near transport arteries, water supply and security

E. Expand vocational education training programs to boost self employment possibilities for youths in garments, bags, shoes, farming, electronics and auto repair.

Eboofa:
Bros.........anytime you post ....it becomes apparent that you do not know Anambra intimately! Our Anambra is an abode of '' strong men'' and ''strongholds'' ! I do not always like Soludo's politics, but he is the only governor that has dared to take on some of these strongholds! How is it that we have the so-called almighty Onitsha main market and Nnewi........yet Anambra cannot generate substantial revenue from the markets................. That is why I approve the demolitions going on in Onitsha and Nnewi.............. Soludo is stepping on big toes, bros!


The Chinese are desperate to expand and maintain their markets............ The Chinese manufacturers are already in Lagos, Ogun State, and Delta State ,,,,,,,,,, opening manufacturing and massive distribution channels.........Importation is going the way of the dinosaurs! We have to open up other economic sectors.........manufacturing and logistics are areas we need to pursue! The agro-allied sector is another...........let us not condemn his plans too soon! I see nothing fundamentally wrong with the aerotropolis plan.............we cannot be stuck at the main market trading only...whilst the world changes around us!

abuzz33:
You use a very outmoded view on your analysis of Anambra. Let me tell you something. Anambra market volume is nothing close to what just Bua Foods does in revenue per year across its facilities. It’s nothing compared to what Nigerian Breweries makes across its four factories.
There is no wealth without production or scale. The small one man business mentality of the likes you see in Onitsha is going the way of the dinosaurs.
Retail is why America is borrowing left and right while China is accumulating capital. It was inevitable that Chinese business people and Lebanese would monitor Nigerian traders sending goods back, identify areas of advantage and come into Nigeria to produce them.
Smart governments are partnering with the Chinese. The Ethiopians, Tanzanian, Kenyans. Our ITK who cannot even run functioning cities somehow believe that they can build an aerotropolis. Only ignorant people will believe them.
I want you to take a look at a country that dont over estimate themselves. Look at the infrastructure very well.
Tanzanian are not doing vulcanizer on side of road or iron kwandem or racing around like mad people in keke. They are doing BRT, electric trains and started the first huge bus terminals in Africa.

Eboofa:
Bros.........anytime you post ....it becomes apparent that you do not know Anambra intimately! Our Anambra is an abode of '' strong men'' and ''strongholds'' ! I do not always like Soludo's politics, but he is the only governor that has dared to take on some of these strongholds! How is it that we have the so-called almighty Onitsha main market and Nnewi........yet Anambra cannot generate substantial revenue from the markets................. That is why I approve the demolitions going on in Onitsha and Nnewi.............. Soludo is stepping on big toes, bros!


The Chinese are desperate to expand and maintain their markets............ The Chinese manufacturers are already in Lagos, Ogun State, and Delta State ,,,,,,,,,, opening manufacturing and massive distribution channels.........Importation is going the way of the dinosaurs! We have to open up other economic sectors.........manufacturing and logistics are areas we need to pursue! The agro-allied sector is another...........let us not condemn his plans too soon! I see nothing fundamentally wrong with the aerotropolis plan.............we cannot be stuck at the main market trading only...whilst the world changes around us!

FOXDOSSIER:
Shanahan university Onitsha is nearing completion as the first Catholic Cardinal out of Nigeria and Anambra born Cardinal Francis Arinze storm from Rome to inspect the project.

FOXDOSSIER:
Shanahan university Onitsha is nearing completion as the first Catholic Cardinal out of Nigeria and Anambra born Cardinal Francis Arinze storm from Rome to inspect the project.