Governor Willie Obiano has said he achieved most of his vision of a more outstanding Anambra State and most dreams his administration shared on the assumption of office.
The Governor stated this during a farewell statewide broadcast to Ndi Anambra.
Governor Obiano recalled that Ndi Anambra’s request for security gave rise to Anambra being the safest state in Nigeria and pointed out that instead of the legacies asked for, monuments were given to Ndi Anambra while working with his team.
The Governor while noting that he was not able to meet up with all his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra, emphasized that his intentions and ambitions were sincere because he and his team tried their best to deliver.
According to him, the overall impact of the implementation of his blueprint is that the economy of Anambra State grew from three-point two trillion naira to four point four trillion naira, comfortably placing Anambra State as Nigeria’s fourth-largest economy.
He pointed out that under his watch, Anambra joined Lagos and Rivers as the only Nigerian states that could meet their operating obligations with funds from their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR and earnings from Value Added Tax, VAT.
He stated further that under his watch, the poverty rate of Anambra dropped from fifty-three per cent in 2020 to fourteen point eight per cent in 2022 and that Anambra has been rated as the state with the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria in 2022 at thirteen points one per cent, at a time when the national average stood at twenty-seven per cent.
He further recalled his administration’s fight against gully erosion which threatened to swallow up four thousand, eight hundred and forty-four square kilometres of land, adding that some interventions which include the 100-foot road, Nnewi which was threatening to swallow the famous Nnewi Spare parts market, Amachala-Awka, Ugamuma-Obosi, Minaj-Obosi, Abagana, Enugwu-Ukwu, Nkpor, Nnewichi, Ezinifite, Ojoto, Ikenga-Ogidi, Ekwueme Square, Nkisi Aroli, among others were embarked on to stem the tide.
He also expressed satisfaction with the construction and commissioning of the thirty years old dream Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri which he said has opened up a vista of economic opportunities into the South East Region, noting that the International Convention Center, Awka holds huge possibilities for Anambra State.
According to him, both the Awka City Stadium and the iconic flyovers in Awka and Amawbia are legacies of the present and future, including the street lights all over the Anambra landscape at night.
Obiano said that the Seventeen bridges and one hundred and thirteen roads that have been completed would enhance the robust development of Tourism Treasures like the Ogba-Ukwu Caves and Waterfalls at Owerre-Ezukala and Ogbunike Caves which are parts of distinctive landmarks of his administration.
Governor Obiano said that the crowning glory of his administration’s efforts in the oil and gas sector is the recognition of Anambra State as an oil-producing state by the federal government, stating that Anambra now has fifteen oil wells.
He added that with the achievement, Anambra state is now qualified to receive additional revenues from the thirteen per cent derivation fund given to oil-producing states, something he notes will give a big financial elbow room to his successor and make it easier for the state to undertake more ambitious projects.
