By Uzo Ugwunze
Anambra state government has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his recent historic State visit to Anambra.
Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor who stated this in a statement said the visit marked significant turning point in the quest for inclusive national development.
He said the visit also signaled beginning of the end of decades of infrastructural and economic marginalisation of the South-East region.
The Commissioner lauded the president for graciously approving key requests by the state government, including inclusion of the State and South-East in the National Railway as well as nation’s Gas Pipeline Masterplans.
He also thanked Tinubu for approving the completion of the Federal highway linking Anambra and Kogi State, commencement of reconstruction works on the failed portions of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, among others.
The statement partly reads, “The government and people of Anambra State are deeply gratified that Mr President, in response to the visionary leadership and engagement efforts of their governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo graciously approved key requests that were part of Anambra’s strategic ask-list.
“The approved items by Mr President include:
1. Inclusion of Anambra State and the South-East in the National Railway Masterplan – A bold step that promises to open new corridors of mobility, trade, and interconnectivity for the South-East and the rest of the federation.
2. Inclusion of Anambra and the Southeast in the nation’s Gas Pipeline Masterplan – A critical enabler of industrialisation and energy access, which will support the state’s growing manufacturing and technology sectors.
3. Approval for the completion of the Federal highway linking Anambra and Kogi State—This transformational project will reduce travel time to Abuja from Anambra by about four hours, fostering trade, mobility, and national unity.
4. Commencement of reconstruction works on the failed portions of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway – the long-standing infrastructural challenge is now finally receiving the federal government’s attention under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
5. Mr President pledged federal support for ecological investments to tackle erosion in Anambra State. This intervention is apposite, knowing that environmental problems of this nature remain Anambra’s number one existential threat.
6. We also appreciate Mr. President’s acceptance to be conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Dike-Si-Mba Anambra” by the traditional rulers in the state. This symbolic title is a testament to his large-heartedness and recognition of his contributions to national development and unity, and his friendship with the state.
7. Mr President acknowledged the huge potential of Anambra State and pledged to work together with Prof. Soludo to fast-track his vision of transforming Anambra into an African Dubai, Taiwan, Silicon Valley (ADTS) in his acknowledgement of Professor Soludo as a Solution Provider and demonstration of Progressives Working Together.
8. The other critical request made by Governor Soludo was for the federal government to get Onitsha River Port working.
9. We are deeply grateful to Mr President for pledging the Federal Government’s continued partnership with Anambra State and the South-East for total restoration of security.
“The State Visit is therefore a big win for Ndi Anambra and indeed all Ndi Igbo. It is a victory for justice, inclusivity, and visionary leadership. It is also a testimony to the power of constructive engagement, strategic partnership, and purposeful governance of the Soludo administration.
“This bold response by the president is a deserving show of friendship—a friendship that transcends politics and is rooted in the shared aspiration for a more united, progressive Nigeria and evidence of progressives working together.
While reaffirming state government’s commitment to working collaboratively with the Federal Government to ensure successful execution of the projects, Mefor expressed confident that the landmark approvals would translate into tangible improvements in the lives and livelihoods of the state and its people.
“We hail Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his statesmanlike leadership and tireless pursuit of development and equity for Ndi Anambra and the South-East. His commitment to inclusive progress, economic transformation, and national cohesion has once again borne fruit.
“As Mr President rightly noted, Professor Soludo is a solution provider, and Anambra is rising (to use Asiwaju’s words), which is the reason Mr President declared his intention to work with the solution governor of Anambra State.
“Indeed, with this partnership, we are reminded that only progressive welfarism shall thrive in the new Nigeria we all seek to build. Progressives shall continue to work together!
“Finally, the government of Anambra State and Ndi Anambra sincerely appreciate the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu; the governors of the South-East (Governor of Abia, H.E. Dr Alex Otti, Governor of Enugu State, H.E. Dr Peter Mba, Governor of Ebonyi, H.E. Francis Nwifuru, represented by his deputy) led by the chairman, H.E. Senator Hope Uzodinma; the Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum.
“We also thank Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State; Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, and a host of others who travelled from far and near to grace the State Visit and show solidarity to Anambra State.
“God bless Asiwaju, God bless Anambra State, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”