*Promises To Tackle Road, Water, Power, Sanitation Challenges
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Friday visited Okpoko, sprawling suburb of Onitsha, in fulfilment of his promises tho make the area more habitable.
Prof. Soludo, accompanied by deputy governor Onyeka Ibezim, spent about four hours inspecting the area and later declared a state of emergency on the community.
He said he would immediately set up a tastkorce that will achieve his dream of transforming the community to make it habitable.
The governor spoke on tackling four major infrastructures in Okpoko which include road network, water and power supply, as well as clearing Sakamori drainage system.
But Prof. Soludo who said that he came to fulfill his campaign promises, said he would later install Street Lights, announcing also that he would set up a Committee to look into other needs of Okpoko community.
He said in the next one week, he would send the list of his commissioners to the State House of Assembly and if they approve it expeditiously, he would award the contract for the construction of Okpoko roads immediately.
The former CBN Governor, informed that Okpoko would benefit from the first set of roads that he would award in the State.
Soludo said, “You can take it to the bank by April, work will start in Okpoko”
He noted that the Sakamoris were blocked coupled with heaps of refuse, stressing that they must be cleared for easy passage of flood.
The Governor also promised to provide water through boreholes as a temporary measure as well as discuss with the Eastern Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) how to improve electricity supply in the area.
He however told the residents that to help him realise this dream of rebuilding Okpoko, they would also contribute something.
“You have something to do to make Anambra better. Every body has something to put” he said.
He said the people must be ready to pay tax and desist from dumping refuse in the drainages, which, he noted, contribute to blockage the Sakamoris.
Soludo further announced the immediate and total ban of touting whether in the parks or markets, directing that collection of any form of revenue in the State should stop henceforth.
He warned that anybody seen collecting revenue should be regarded as a thief and dealth with accordingly.
The Governor said there is a plan for transporters including Keke drivers to pay directly to the bank instead of paying to hoodlums who extorted them.
He also warned market leaders not to confront anybody in the market in the name of collecting revenues.
Noting that Okpoko is in his priority list, Prof. Soludo said he would also install street lights on the roads he would build.
Soludo said he would create a programme of skill acquisition for touts, urging them to avail themselves of that opportunity but warned that any of them who does not want peace in the State should better relocate from Anambra State.
The visit to Okpoko which was Soludo’s first major assignment after his swearing on Thursday March 17, 2021 was hailed by residents who described it as a departure from the past.
The governor also visited Porthacourt Road, Niger Street, Creek Road and Main Market, also regarded as some of the failed portions in Onitsha.
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