The Governor of Anambra State in southeast Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has officially flagged off the construction of the strategic St. Stephen’s Road network in Inland Town, Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.
The ceremony, held at Emmanuel Junction on Monday, drew a large crowd of enthusiastic residents, traditional rulers, and party faithful who lauded the governor’s efforts in repositioning Onitsha, the state’s commercial capital and largest investment hub.
Describing Onitsha as central to the state’s economic viability, Governor Soludo emphasised the importance of sustained infrastructure development and environmental clean-up to prevent further urban decline and reverse years of neglect.
“To rescue Onitsha, we had to first rescue the environment. When I assumed office, Onitsha was facing environmental degradation, with refuse piles, blocked drainage, and deadly floods. People were relocating to neighbouring states. We had to act fast,” Soludo said.
“Since taking office, my administration has delivered 32.69 kilometres of new road infrastructure across the city, constructed drainage systems, upgraded major intersections like the Ochanja Roundabout, and commenced the transformation of the Okpoko slum, once among Nigeria’s largest, into a liveable urban zone.
“We began desilting drainages and discovered entire buildings obstructing water flow. In Ochanja, we cleared a refuse dump as tall as a building, and shockingly, found a corpse buried beneath it. Today, there’s a water fountain there,” he recalled.
The newly flagged-off road project connects St. Stephen Catholic Church, Isiokwe, Ogboli, Bishop Onyeabo, Opio, and surrounding areas. The governor said it will be executed by New Idea Construction Company, with a firm commitment to complete it within three months, well before Christmas.
“I came today to tell Ndi Onitsha that Oluatuegwu I of Anambra is here to fulfil our promise. I’ll be back to commission this road and flag off others. This is part of our vision to build a liveable and prosperous homeland.”
Soludo also reiterated his broader development goals, including his vision for a modern water supply system accessible to every household in Onitsha.
Beyond infrastructure, the governor used the occasion to rally support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Barr. Ifeoma Azikiwe, ahead of the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election scheduled for Saturday, August 16. The seat became vacant following the tragic kidnap and murder of former Labour Party lawmaker, Justice Azuka.
The governor revealed that the late Azuka had been in talks to join APGA prior to his death, suggesting that his political alignment was already shifting before the tragedy occurred.
“He had seen that there’s no need to labour in vain in the other party. Unfortunately, death came too soon. But we will honour his legacy by continuing the work he believed in,” Soludo said.
A minute of silence was observed in Azuka’s memory, emphasising the solemnity of the moment before the ceremonial ribbon-cutting commenced.
Governor Soludo concluded by affirming his administration’s commitment to visible, measurable governance rather than politics of rhetoric.
“I don’t speak with four sides of the mouth. I’m not interested in abandoned projects. We applied for this job, and we’re here to deliver. Anambra is now among the top five most sustainable states in Nigeria, and we’re just getting started.”