Anambra state governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has called for increased investments from indigenes of the state living in Lagos.
Soludo, who spoke over the weekend while launching the ‘Homeland Consciousness’ initiative, said his government has done so much and is still counting on creating a conducive environment for investments in the state.
The governor, who noted that indigenes of Anambra in Lagos have not done well in comparison with those in other sprawling states, said the time had come for Anambrians in Lagos to come together and join his government to make the state an investment haven for both local and foreign investors.
The event put together by the Anambra Lagos Liaison Office attracted a large turnout of the state’s indigents.
The governor said, “We need to channel our resources and investments back to our homeland to replicate some of our business ideas elsewhere.”
According to him, this will not only give them a sense of pride but also make the state a much sought-after investment destination by non-indigenes and foreigners.
He urged well-meaning indigenes of Anambra in Lagos to come together to shape the future for a greater Anambra state, adding, “We need to build business hubs and create boomtowns in our homeland, and possibly, stimulate the influx of foreign capital.”
The Anambra Homeland Consciousness initiative is designed to strengthen the bond between the indigenes of the state, harness their collective resources, and create pathways for sustainable development in Anambra State.
He allayed fears that the campaign was aimed at attracting people’s investments back to their home state, saying that the Homeland Consciousness initiative “is a message to our people saying whatever you are doing, think home. We are not saying take everything you have in Lagos or elsewhere home. No!”
Reeling out his scorecard for the last three years of his administration, Soludo said his administration has enhanced the state through the delivery of several infrastructure projects.
The project, he said, is the award and flag off of 700 kilometres of roads in 21 local government areas of the state, with 400 kilometres set for commissioning by the third anniversary just as another 400 kilometres of roads have been rehabilitated through the zero pothole initiative.
Also, large-scale erosion control projects are addressing major challenges at critical locations like Ebenator, Nnobi, Ezi-Oko, Awka (behind Ekwueme Square), Onitsha-Owerri Road in the Oba axis, near Rojenny Hotel, while Onitsha-Owerri Road (Ozubulu axis ) is currently in progress.
Soludo added that flyover bridge construction at the Ekwuloba inter-section of two Federal Highways is underway, showcasing commitment to improved connectivity, while the dual carriage ways at the Ekwuloba-Agulu-Uga and Agulu-Nnobi-Nnewi are seriously under construction to give fast connectivity to different parts of the state.
Others include the completion of abandoned projects, renovation of existing public buildings, new urban development initiatives, renewable energy solutions, expansion of electricity infrastructure, and water sector transformation.
The governor said there are plans to build an industrial park, a new Onitsha, Silicon Valley, Marriott Hotel, Awka 2.0.
On security, Soludo said his government was on top of the game and has been able to check insecurity throughout the state.
According to him, the efforts of the exploits of Agunechemba have been paying off, and he pledged to do more by deploying technology to rid the state of bad boys, assuring that every other utility to encourage investment in the state is being put in place.
He said the Homeland Security Law 2025, which he signed into law recently, provides a framework for community/citizens’ ownership and participation in sustainable security and social re-engineering.
He added that Operation Udo Ga-Achi is a special intervention force that complements regular policing and is designed to upscale intelligence gathering, reward whistleblowers, enhance rapid response, and urgently root out criminals from every camp in Anambra State.
The governor noted that the security challenges facing the state are complex and hydra-headed, requiring a comprehensive and sustainable response, emphasising that the state government is determined to fight criminality and ensure that Anambra State becomes the safest state in Nigeria.
He said that the homeland security law, which has aided the arrest of native doctors preparing charms for suspected kidnappers, was not targeted at traditional religious practitioners.
According to him, traditional religion is an essential component of Igbo traditional religion and culture.
The new law was designed to combat crime and criminality committed by quacks and evil native doctors, particularly those who pervert and alter the core values of the Igbo society, those who promote and teach the acquisition of wealth without work, and those who deceive the younger generation and unwary members of society.
He condemned native doctors in the state who misled the youth on wealth without work.
He said his government has built four new general hospitals, renovated several others, and employed more medical personnel.
On education, he said the state was leading many states, as his administration had employed more teachers, ending the era of schools without teachers.
