SOLUDO PAYS GLOWING TRIBUTE TO LATE HON OKEY OKOYE, SAYS EIGHT SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION TO HIS MURDER ARE IN CUSTODY

By Christian ABURIME

Eight persons suspected to be in connection with the murder of the late Anambra Lawmaker who represented Aguata Constituency Two, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, have been arrested.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo dropped the hint during a holy mass celebrated in honour of the lawmaker at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Isuofia.

Governor Soludo pledged that his government will not rest on its oars until all the criminals involved in the gruesome murder of the lawmaker are brought to face justice. He also expressed his solidarity to all the victims of criminality in the state, and reassured that every criminal will surely face justice 

While consoling the immediate family and the members of the legislative arm, Governor Soludo re-emphasized again that justice must take its full course on the murder case, calling on communities in the state to intensify support for government in its fight against criminality across the state by flushing out the bad eggs among them.

"These people are not unknown gunmen. They live among our people, some of them have families and operate from various communities. We need you to help us identify them so that they can face justice", Governor Soludo said.

"The gunmen came with their strange religion, but there is no relationship between light and darkness. Their gods drink blood, but ours doesn't, that's why we need to fight them together" He further said 

The Governor also made a case for 'operation know your tenants,' commencing with Isuofia as a way of identifying the criminal elements within the communities. He stated that the state House of Assembly had already written to INEC about the vacuum that exists in the constituency, with Hon Okoye's exit, pointing out that soon a by-election will be conducted to complete his tenure. He also promised that every entitlement due to the late lawmaker will be paid to the family he left behind 

Cardinal Nominee and Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Okpalaeke presided over the mass celebration.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, members of the State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor and the Deputy Speaker Hon Paschal Agbodike; Traditional Ruler of Isuofia, Col. Aloysius Muoghalu and others.

Recall that the late lawmaker and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka were kidnapped on the road by the heartless and barbaric murderers on 15th, May, 2022.

Governor Soludo Assents To The 2022 Revised Budget

BY EJIKE ABANA

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has signed the 2022 Revised Appropriation bill of 170 billion naira into law.

Governor Soludo performed the signing ceremony of the budget tagged "Building Off From The Blocks" at the Government House, Awka.

Performing the function, Governor Soludo explained that the purpose of the 2022 revised budget was to reflect current realities, challenges, priorities of the new administration and the dire needs of residents in Anambra.

The Governor commended members of the House of Assembly for being diligent, responsible and responsive to their job.

While advocating for very strong partnership with the tiers of government and the people towards the march to the dream homeland, the Governor explained that his assentment to the budget portends the birth of a new partnership for a greater Anambra.

The Governor basked that the budget process was undergone with integrity, without any form of inducement, explaining that in his manifesto, annual expenditure of 250 billion naira on infrastructure, was earmarked  to build the dream Anambra.

Speaking to the ABS, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor explained that the budget size was retained but thorough scrutiny was done to tweak the figures for greater impact on the masses.

Earlier while presenting the budget, Commissioner for Budget, Ms. Chiamaka Nnake and Special Adviser to the Governor on House of Assembly Matters, Chief Anayo Nnebe thanked the members for performing a thorough and quick job on the budget.

Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, members of the Anambra State Executive Council including Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, President General of Anambra State Association of Town Union, Barrister Titus Akpudo, among others were present at the ceremony.

Recall that on May 19, 2022, Governor Soludo presented a revised draft budget of N170 billion for 2022 to the state House of Assembly for approval.

That was an improvement on 

Appropriation Bill of N141.9 billion, presented by the immediate past administration for 2022.

The budget was passed into law by the State House of Assembly on 15th July.

LEVERAGING ON PARTNERSHIPS FOR A PROSPEROUS HOMELAND

By Ejike Abana

The recent visit of high profile members of the international community and foreign development partners in Nigeria to Anambra State continues to attract positive comments, commendations and hope for a better future. This is because of the huge benefits the state could get from their development efforts. 

The nineteen-person high-powered delegation, led by Ambassador Samuela Isopi of the European Union, had the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, the Chargé d'affaires of the German Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Martin Huth, Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christopher, Resident Representative, International Monetary Fund, Mr Ari Aisen, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, United Nations, Mr Matthias Schmale. 

Their visit, on Governor Chukwuma Soludo's invitation, was laid in the fact that the governor's broad vision of building a liveable and prosperous homeland in line with his solution contract with Ndi Anambra, is in tandem with the areas of focus of these foreign development partners in Nigeria. Captured under the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, the international community is committed to the global call to action to terminate poverty, safeguard the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals that the United Nations is working on in Nigeria: No poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions.

The challenges facing the world and Nigeria in particular therefore makes this partnership inevitable. The country’s oil-dependent economy is going through a turbulent period. The sharp drop in global oil prices has had a negative impact on the country’s entire economy and clouded the outlook for the year.

Declining oil revenues have put additional stress on governments including at federal and sub-national levels. The Federal Government has reduced its spending and placed new foreign currency restrictions on companies. With Nigeria importing over eighty percent of what it consumes, inflation and cost of living are rising. These challenges and more informed the Governor's search for alternatives in his quest to fulfill his promises.

According to him, leveraging on strategic partnerships with the federal government, the international community and foundations is at the fulcrum of his administration's intentions for the state. While expressing knowledge that the international community had contributed immensely to make Nigeria work, the Governor said that part of Anambra's future lies in its past, and pointed out that the major strength of the state is in its human resource capital. He also identified the state's weaknesses and threats as environmental, infrastructural, insecurity, unplanned cities, communities and markets, among others.

The visit provided the opportunity for these major players in the foreign development field to have a first-hand knowledge of the state's challenges, identify areas of need and feel the real impact of members of the community. During the visit, the Governor took the visitors to the Sakamori drainage in Okpoko and other locations in Onitsha which are yearning for intervention.

As these development partners emphasize that for such development to be sustainable, there must be core involvement of the local people, there is therefore need for Ndi Anambra to give the government the necessary support needed to practically engage these partners in building the state of their dreams.

ANSEC Meets, Approves Removal Of Illegal Structures Beyond Onitsha, To Criminalise Land Grabbing In Anambra

By Ejike Abana

Government of Anambra State has announced plans to remove illegal structures defacing the environment beyond Onitsha in the coming weeks.

This was part of resolutions at the Anambra State Executive Council Meeting, held at Government House, Awka.

According to a Post-ANSEC release by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, "It has come to the attention of ANSEC that the lands of many community secondary and primary schools have been massively encroached on by some communities and developers". 

He pointed out that it is unacceptable and government is seriously looking to recover the portions of land, adding that as part of measures, to achieve this within the ambit of the law, government is seeking to quickly amend land laws so that land grabbing will be criminalized.

Commissioner Nwosu further noted that as a responsive government, ANSEC has set up a committee to review payment claims by contractors of the previous administration to ascertain if the contracts were awarded in line with due process, if they were completed or not, among others.

Members of the committee include Finance Commissioner as Chairman of the Committee, Accountant General, Department of Public procurement, General Manager, Commissioners for Works, Housing and Power. 

They have till September to complete their work. 

Sir Nwosu further explained that haven discovered that some native doctors provide charm with which gunmen operate, it has become necessary to enumerate and register them as practitioners, categorised into two such as herbalists and spiritualists.

 "While government appreciates the fact that some of them add value to health care, it is also not unaware that they have helped to imbue these criminals with the dare-devil confidence that has driven them into committing despicable crimes as kidnapping, extortion of ransom, beheading, etc. Where they are found culpable in such crimes, it will be easy to fish them out from the register".

Also at ANSEC, a Revenue Committee was constituted, comprising the Chairman of Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo, Commissioner for Market and Industry, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, Special Adviser, Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Godwin Nnadozie as well as Managing Director, Information Communication Technology Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Agbata. 

The Commissioner said that their responsibility is to disaggregate the various revenue waste management through the demand notices issued in order to determine where greater effort would be channeled.

He revealed that following the last teachers' Computer Based Test, a total of 6,250 candidates have been shortlisted. 

They include: 2,250 for Primary School are 2,250 and 3,000 for Secondary School, stressing that the oral interview have been scheduled to commence on the 27th of July, 2022 and will last for two weeks.

"The interviews which will come in batches will hold at Igwebuike Grammar School Awka; St John of God Secondary School and Awka and ASUBEB, Awka".

Highpoint of the ANSEC meeting was presentation of a souvenir from the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Cui Jianchun to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, through the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Chief Don Onyenyi. 

The souvenir serves as a token of friendship in preparation for the envoy's  visit to Anambra state later in October where it is planned that he will set up a Cultural Centre in the state.

Government Task Force To Remove Major Blockage Obstructing Free Flow Of Water Into River Niger

By Ejike Abana

An illegal drainage along Nwangene Stream, River Niger Way, Onitsha which has become a major blockage of flood water has been marked for demolition by Anambra State Government Taskforce.

The government taskforce which was led by the Commissioner for Works, Engineer Ifeanyi Okonma stormed Onitsha to stop the action of Federal Inland Waterways workers who blocked the original waterways and drainages and created their own makeshift drainage thereby causing huge gullies in the area.

According to the Commissioner, Governor Soludo is determined and committed to making Anambra state a liveable and prosperous mega City which can only beachieved by disrupting many things in the state.

He explained that opening the original waterways which is blocked by illegal activities of people in the area is one of government's efforts to help the citizenry, pointing out that flood has done a lot of damage to people. 

Engineer Okoma also added that Nwangene Stream which discharges natural warm water into the River Niger has been blocked by the negligent activities of people.

For his part, one of the members of the Task Force, Barrister Chike Maduekwe, said that the main purpose of the visit to the area is to ascertain the damage already done in the drainage system and proffer a solution.

According to him the drainage should be built in such a way that water will pass freely to River Niger and warned the staff of the Federal Inland Waterways to stop selling government land to people.

In an interview, Chairman of Biafra Market, Mr. Success Chiokwe and a trader in the market, Mr. Kelue Nnanyelugo, expressed delight over government's decision to clear the waterways and channel water to it's appropriately which will mark the end of their flood water trouble in the market.

Other places visited include Akunnia Ojote waterways and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Housing Estate, Fegge, Onitsha.

SOLUDO HARPS ON ACCURATE DATA FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING AS NATIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION'S CHAIRMAN PAYS COURTESY VISIT

By Christian ABURIME

The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, has tasked the National Population Commission on providing accurate data as a panacea for effective planning.

Governor Soludo was speaking when he received a delegation from the Commission who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Awka.

Chairman of the National Population Commission, Hon. Isa Kwarra led the delegation comprising of Commissioners and Directors of the NPC.

The visit became imperative to solicit the state government support, in lieu of the digital housing and National Population Housing Census exercise billed for April, 2023.

Governor Soludo noted that statistics is everything, and remains the basic requirement for effective planning for development.

Said the Governor; "If you can't measure it, you can't change it! Without data, you can't plan". 

He reiterated the significance of the Commission and the imperative of a full population demographics and not just stating the total number of a location especially for a unique state like Anambra which is estimated to have over 50% of its indigenous population living outside of the state.

"The transit population of Ndi Anambra is more than those domiciled in the state. The 50% population is just an estimate. We need concrete numbers to plan for the surging population that will arrive the state during the festive period and also plan for traffic control, and for several other social sectors".

Governor Soludo further stated that to plan for tomorrow, for purely planning purposes, not just for only residents of Anambra State but also Ndi Anambra living outside of the state, basic data for age population, education, qualification, residential address, persons living with disability, income level, household survey, among others, are basic requirements. He however noted regrettably, that such basic data needed to disaggregate are sadly unavailable.

According to Governor Soludo; "we are committed to supporting the next population census exercise so as to ensure it is successful with a less error margin". 

"It would be delightful if the National Population Commission can provide the total number of Ndi Anambra living in the 35 states of the Federation so that we can be able to plan for basic infrastructure". Governor further said.

He assured of maximum security and provision of basic logistics in terms of sensitisation, mobilization, personal and professional assistance, during the exercise.

In his remark, the chairman of the National Population Commission, Hon. Isa Kwarra, pleaded with Governor Soludo to uphold Anambra state as the light of the nation, reeling out the intensified efforts made so far by the Commission as they prepare for the national count.

"We've commenced pre-test trial census exercise using Idemili South LGA. The specific objectives will be to assess the quality of the enumeration area maps that had been created, determine demographic and geographical changes that might have occurred and their implications, determine feasibility for house numbering, determine correlation between estimated population and pre-test enumerated population, determine educational qualification for 2023 census enumerators, determine estimated workload on enumerators and finally, determine logistics support required from States and LGAs"; he concluded.

Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, Chief of Protocol and Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Chinedu Nwoye Glamour among others attended the event.

SOLUDO HOSTS CBN REPS, CANVASSES FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE

By Christian ABURIME 

Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to champion the shift from dependence on oil to agriculture-driven economy.

Governor Soludo who was speaking when he played host to the CBN, Awka branch Manager, Mr. Benedict Maduagwu at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia described agro-export as the game changer for Nigeria's economy.

The Governor said that his administration is already taking the lead by introducing regenerative agriculture, reinvention of the palm revolution and coconut economy, emphasizing that dependence on crude oil at this critical time may spell doom for the country as the NNPC had made zero remittance into the federation account since February this year.

"The economy of the old in our region was built on palm, but crude oil came and Nigeria forgot the other oil. It is time for the country to maximize agriculture. In Anambra, we want to plant one million palm and coconut seedlings" annually.

"I believe that over the years, the value chain will improve to earn foreign exchange and earn income for the state. Thank God agriculture is central to the Central bank and we wish that CBN will be worthy partners in our export agenda".

The Governor noted that the Central Bank plays a pivotal role in the development of the country, stressing that when inflation is galloping, nothing else will work.

"CBN is a Macro economic institution and financial regulator and it plays developmental roles", Governor Soludo added.

While recalling the achievements recorded during his tenure as the CBN Governor, Professor Soludo expressed appreciation that the thrust in agriculture introduced during his tenure was maintained.

Said Soludo, "It's now a matter of survival with agriculture as the new economy. There are huge redundancies in the sector and we must fully exploit it by determining ways to deliver more efficiently and more effectively'.

"We are strong in the area of Anambra rice, cassava. CBN should release grants on research and development. Consider our ukwa (bread fruit), uziza, uda and our local spices. Get scientists to produce the improved varieties. Even our palm wine should be exported the way they export Champagne across the globe".

The Governor who commended the CBN Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, revealed that greater partnership between CBN and Anambra state government on areas that have potentials to change lives is desirous by his administration. He said; "export oriented production is the game changer and I applaud CBN staff for  their integrity and professionalism".

He concluded by calling the attention of the CBN to other issues, including the supposed 2.5 billion naira agriculture fund, to Anambra state, among others.

Earlier, the CBN, Awka branch Manager who led the delegation, Mr. Benedict Maduagwu spoke about the efforts of the institution in key areas of the Country's economy, especially in the agricultural sector. He disclosed that they are making gradual progress on improvement in sensitisation, calling the mind of the governor to some CBN facilities that can be of immense benefit to the state including the Anchor Borrower Scheme, Accelerated Development Scheme, among others.

He asked the state government to key into them.

Principal Secretary to the Governor, Barrister JPC Anetoh, State Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Igwegbe, Deputy Chief of Staff/Chief Protocol to the Governor,  Hon Chinedu Nwoye ( Glamour), among others, were present during the visit.