Soludo’s Ambitious Projects Set Him Apart From Previous Governors

IZUCHUKWU ADICHIE 

One undeniable fact about Soludo’s government is his passion for ambitious projects. Unlike previous governors, Soludo does not initiate projects only to abandon them; he emphasizes the importance of follow-through. An important part of his governance style is conducting a NEEDS assessment before starting any project, ensuring that adequate funding is secured beforehand.

When he assumed office in 2022, Anambra State was facing serious challenges. The roads were largely impassable, and there were no teachers in classrooms, nor were doctors and nurses in hospitals. There was no functioning government house, and nine local governments were under criminal control. The Onitsha metropolitan area was overtaken by touts, driving away customers and stifling commerce. Government offices were costing over 100 million naira per month to maintain, and major urban areas, including the state capital, were in disrepair. Governance had hit rock bottom, leaving the state in a precarious situation. That was the reality Soludo faced upon taking office.

Acting swiftly, Soludo conducted a needs assessment to identify the most critical projects for Ndi Anambra. He visited overlooked areas like Okpoko and Olumbanasa. Among his initiatives was the construction of several key road projects, including the 25.5 km Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbene-Ugbenu-Awba Ofemili road, the 26.4 km Amansea-Ndiukwuenu-Awka-Ufuma road, and the 14.058 km Okpoko internal roads and urban renewal project including reticulation of pipeborne water, solar street lights and first-ever general hospital. He also oversaw the construction of the 2.54 km Port Harcourt Street Road and the 3.27 km Niger Street Road in Fegge, as well as numerous internal roads totaling 14.48 km in Awka and 7.79 km in Onitsha North.

These projects addressed severe flooding and erosion issues that had driven many residents to abandon their homes and businesses due to a lack of access roads. The acceleration of infrastructure transformation has since allowed many residents to reclaim their lost lands and properties.

In addition to addressing immediate infrastructure needs, Soludo initiated the construction of a new government house and governor’s lodge in Awka, breaking a 34-year jinx. He launched several major projects, including Solution Funcity, which aims to become the largest amusement and water park in Africa when completed, and the Solution Innovation District, envisioned as Anambra’s Silicon Valley -the first state government-owned innovation and tech Hub in the southeastern state. Other notable developments include the Oba Drug Market -noted to be the largest in Africa, a 10-story Marriott International Hotel, and the construction of 700 kilometers of roads. This includes the ongoing dualization of major federal roads such as the 68 km Amawbia-Nise-Agulu-Nanka-Ekwulobia-Uga Federal Highway, which features a flyover and a modern bus terminal, as well as the 37.2 km Nwagu Agulu-Nnobi-Nnewi federal road and Lot 2: the Nnewi-Ozubulu-Okija federal road. Of the total 700 kilometers awarded, 400 kilometers have already been completed in record time. These infrastructure projects stand as a testament to the bold vision of Soludo’s administration.

Soludo has prioritized the renovation of the Anambra State House of Assembly complex, which now stands as a testament to effective leadership. These were projects that the previous government avoided because of their huge financial cost.

He is also overseeing the construction of the Anambra Trauma Center at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku, Awka, as well as a new Anambra College of Nursing Sciences in Isuofia. These projects are progressing rapidly. Additionally, he is constructing five new general hospitals in Anambra North—located in Fegge, Okpoko, Anaku, Aguleri Otu, and Oromaetiti—and has upgraded three existing hospitals in Enugwu-ukwu, Umueri, and Ekwulobia. This includes renovating 326 primary health centers, one in each political ward, and connecting them through telemedicine, positioning Anambra as a leader in Nigeria’s health sector.

Notably, Soludo made history by conducting Local Government elections that was last conducted in two decades in the state and by becoming the first Nigerian governor to employ 8,115 teachers and 1,000 health personnel within his first two years in office. He is also implementing a program for free and quality education for every child born in Anambra, alongside introducing free antenatal care, delivery services, and cesarean sections for pregnant mothers. These initiatives reflect his ambitious vision for the state.

Soludo has demonstrated passionate courage and foresight by acquiring land for the building of the new cities – Awka 2.0 and Onitsha 2.0. This initiative mirrors the development in Cairo, Egypt, where a new city is under construction. Additionally, the governor is establishing the first-ever free trade zone in the Southeast, known as the Anambra Industrial City (AMIIC), for which the master plan and stakeholder engagement have been completed. No governor, past or present, in the Southeast has achieved this milestone, showcasing Soludo’s bold vision.

Currently, he is actively implementing the reticulation of clean water, nicked named “Mmili Ndu Soludo,” by the beneficiaries across the state and installing solar-powered streetlights to revive nightlife in Anambra. The governor is building a brighter future with the remodeling of 22 smart schools in the 21 local governments. That indeed is another wonderful and ambitious project.

Today, the issue of pensioners owed backlogs has been resolved, allowing Ndi Anambra workers and pensioners to receive their payments with ease. Pensioners no longer have to retire home, without hope. Soludo has also become the first Anambra governor since the state’s creation to implement a minimum wage.

Additionally, the Governor is making a significant commitment to upgrading public school infrastructure through the ASUBEB program. He is providing subventions to mission-public schools, granting funds to micro-businesses across 326 wards, and expanding the One-Youth-Two-Skills program which has trained and empowered 5,000 Ndi Anambra with a seed capital of Two Billion Naira (first batch) of which the second batch training of 8,000 youth is ongoing. Furthermore, he has established the One Million Digital Tribe through the Solution Innovation District (SID). These initiatives are transformative and contribute to the promising future of the state, ensuring Anambra’s economic growth. These are ambitious projects, and none of them can be categorized as white elephant projects. All are either completed, substantially underway, or currently ongoing.

What sets Soludo apart is his commitment to developing all three senatorial zones—Anambra North, Central, and South—simultaneously and at the same pace. Today, Ndi Anambra can rest assured and sleep with their two eyes closed knowing that there is a tight security operative, “Agunaechemba,” at the entrance gate of Anambra State.