The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has dropped hints of a plan to build an ultramodern millionaire’s city that will reflect the proud heritage of Ndi Anambra as the home of the greatest number of billionaires in Nigeria.
Obiano who spoke during his inspection of three flyovers that are rising simultaneously in the emerging city of Awka at the weekend said, “We have avision of building a Millionaire’s City. Most of the millionaires in Nigeria are from Anambra. I also understand that most of the people who own private jets in Nigeria are from Anambra. So, we want to set up a place for them where they can come home and build befitting estates with helicopter landing pads,” he enthused.
Expressing the hope that the Millionaires City concept would attract the state’s illustrious sons and daughters who have catalysed development across Africa but left their home state as a wasteland, Governor Obiano restated his commitment to ensure that Anambra remains crime-free as it was crucial to all development efforts.
“We still maintain zero-tolerance for criminals in Anambra State. We have enough work for everybody,” Obiano assured pointing out that the three flyovers that are under construction in Awka had created over 1200 jobs while Coched Farms Limited, an Agro-allied firm operated by the Coscharis Group in partnership with the state government had so far employed over 700 people in its first phase of operation.
The governor’s plan for a Millionaires City may not be unconnected to recent research findings that indicate that Anambra is home to over 1500 billionaires. Obiano also spoke of the plans to open up bid for the Millennium city project saying that Awka Capital Territory Development Authority ACTDA would soon be processing requests for lands in the choice location.
“The Awka CT will determine the kind of buildings to be erected in different locations,” he remarked and further revealed that the aerial mapping and photography of the Awka Captial Territory had finally been completed and approved by the Anambra State Executive Council.
“The aerial photography of the rest of the state would have been concluded by now but the weather would not permit that. So they will continue in October. By December they would have done the aerial mapping of the rest of Anambra State. So this aerial mapping has a great deal of importance to Anambra State. It will assist in estate development, erosion control, agricultural planning etc. It will also bring down the cost of doing business in Anambra State. We are one of the few states that have done it in Nigeria,” governor Obiano remarked.
According to him, the aerial mapping was the first stage of the state’s digitization programme. “When we are done with the Aerial mapping, we shall go to the next stage which is the GPS stage of this project where the GPS in our cars will guide us to different locations across the state.
Governor Obiano also revealed that four different companies are bidding to handle the design of the proposed Awka Capita City. “The companies have made their presentations and the tender board will review and advise on the best option. By the time they are done, the chosen design will be super-imposed on the present Awka. That will give us a clear idea about the changes to make. On the whole we shall choose a design that will give us minimal compensation to pay as we expand Awka to be one of the best cities in the world. Just like everything I do, I am very serious about this project and I want to re-assure Ndi Anambra that this project will be completed on time,” the governor added.
Governor Obiano also announced that as part of the overall plan for the anticipated Awka Capital City, he had directed the Special Committee on power to include Awka in the captive Power Project which gives special locations 10 megawatts of electricity. Other cities on the scheme are Onitsha, Ozubulu and Nnewi.
2: Obiano assures on Workers’ Salaries, Delivery of Awka Flyovers on Schedule
In spite of the biting cash crunch that has made it impossible for many states in the country to pay workers their salaries, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano at the weekend assured Anambra workers that their salaries would always be paid and that the three flyovers simultaneously coming up in the state capital would all be delivered on schedule.
Obiano who spoke during an unscheduled tour of the Flyovers at the weekend also assured that the prevailing economic downturn would not halt any of the massive construction works going on in different parts of the state.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on the bridges and maintained that things were going according to plan. “These three bridges we are seeing will be completed according to plan. Two will be completed in August this year while the other one will be completed in April next year. So, before May next year, we would have completed all these projects,” he enthused.
Governor Obiano further observed that the Managing Director of IDC, Mr. Shaheed was always on hand to personally ensure that construction work was going on as planned. According to him, “It may interest the doubting Thomases to know that we pay the bills on these bridges as they are processed and we are not going to renege on that. And we are not going to owe workers because of any of these projects. We are going to keep paying salaries,” the governor assured.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of IDC, Mr. Shaheed El-Ahel, assured that the flyovers would be delivered on schedule. “This particular Bridge, the Aroma Bridge will be finished by the end of August. Amawbia and Aroma must end in August this year. The Kwata Bridge will be finished and handed over with the ramps and everything by April ending next year,” Mr. El-Ahel assured.
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