CHRISTIAN ABURIME
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR has commissioned a newly completed 2.5-kilometer road in Ichida, Anaocha Local Government Area, reiterating that a Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) remains the most viable blueprint for the rapid transformation of Anambra State.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Governor Soludo emphasized that traditional government financing is no longer sufficient to meet the state’s massive infrastructural deficits, calling on wealthy citizens and communities to partner with the administration.
“To develop Anambra in a fast-paced manner, PPCP is the answer. We launched our development strategy, which is PPCP, to develop Anambra in a fast-paced manner because government may not do it on that scale. Money in government coffers is not up to 2 percent. We are left with no other option than to opt for this model.”
The Governor praised the people of Anaocha LGA for historically championing community-led development, paying tribute to icons who laid the foundation for the initiative.
“Anaocha has been at the forefront; Tonimas of blessed memory is a case to note with 18 kilometers of road. Others followed suit. This kind of gesture is the legacy that is enduring. More people are now lining up, building roads and other structures. This is the way to move this society forward, rapidly.”
Soludo explicitly urged residents to emulate the public-spiritedness of Chief Nzekwe, whose contributions served as a catalyst for the road project. He noted that community development does not require immense wealth, but a willing heart to contribute to the collective good.
“I use this opportunity to thank ndị Anambra who have answered this call. Truth is that nobody has enough, but no one is too poor to give and no one is too rich to receive. Contribute your own quota… buy a pencil for a child, sweep the village square, or give information about criminal activities in your location.”
Connecting the 2.5km Ichida road to the broader state infrastructure, Governor Soludo shared his administration’s long-term master plan to prevent haphazard urbanization and ensure seamless connectivity across Anambra.
“The state is currently dualizing major arterial roads. Once the central beltway is completed, smaller community roads will seamlessly link up to form a massive grid. The government is actively working on developing four new planned cities to curb unstructured urban sprawl.”
“We are working on four new cities because in the next 10 years, everywhere will be built up in a haphazard manner,” Soludo warned, while expressing optimism about the state’s current trajectory. “What I see all over Anambra gives me joy.”
With the commissioning of the Ichida road, the Soludo administration continues to demonstrate that while the government will dutifully play its part, the proactive involvement of the private sector and local communities is the ultimate catalyst for sustainable state-wide development.
In his remarks, the msn who built the road project, Chief Tochukwu Nzekwe, expressed profound gratitude to God and the state government for making the project a reality. He explained that his decision to fund the construction was born out of a deep-seated desire to alleviate the suffering of his people and heed the Governor’s persistent call for think-home philosophy.