Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Friday, said his administration was determined to change the status of Agulu in Anaocha LGA from a travelling route to a destination where tourist and investors would live and thrive.
Soludo disclosed this while commissioning Solutions Arena Fruits and Vegetables market comprising over 65 spaces shops built by Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) at Oye Toro in Umuowere village, Agulu.
The governor, who hailed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, ACTDA, Hon. Osita Onuko for siting a market into the ancient community, explained that the initiative was part of his numerous agenda to develop and lift Agulu to an enviable height.
According to him, ACTDA which has sited similar project at Okpuno in Awka South LGA, has through the project contributed to his administration efforts to put an end to street trading and hawking along the road which exposes people to accidents, diseases, traffic jams, among other untold hardships.
“ACTDA under this young man (Osita Onuko) is doing a great job. After siting Solutions Arena fruits and vegetables at Okpuno, he quickly sited this one here to show you that Agulu is part of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority. We don’t want our women to be trading under the sun and rain, and along the streets.
“This project will help to decongest traffics at Nwagu. ACTDA has used Agulu to set a modal for other communities without such to see it as a model,” he added noting that basic amenities such as toilets, borehole, 24 hours solar powered lights, among others were provided to give the facility a facelift.
The governor further maintained that the state master plan for Agulu was huge and accommodates the next generation of Anambra, adding that his administration has mapped out all Trunk-A Road for dualization, starting from Agulu where roads leading to Ekwulọbịa to Akọwa (Imo State) and to Nnewi through Neni -Oraukwu where also ongoing.
“We have a huge agenda in Agulu and Anaocha. Agulu is a big town. God created and beautified the town with a lake. We will turn Agulu into a tourist destination by changing the status of the lake and Agulu generally so that tourists, including local and foreign investors will come to live here.
“The Solution Arena which is not ordinarily meant to be a state government project is just supposed to serve as a model to communities, as part of our urban regeneration agenda. This is meant to take development nearer to the people, especially the poor and forgotten, in line with the “leave no one behind” mantra of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
“Everybody that will do business here, will get a shop free of charge. There are communities in the state who hadn’t seen coal tar, but with the massive road construction of over 500 kilometres, they can now heave a sigh of relief”, the Governor added.
Earlier, the Chairman of Anaocha local government area, Mr. Romanus Ibekwe, and members representing Anaocha Constituencies One and Two at the State House of Assembly, Ms. Nkechi Ogbuefi and Hon. Ejike Okechukwu expressed joy over the Governor’s numerous developmental projects in the Council area, assuring that they would support his vision and second term ambition.
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