From “Departure Lounge” to Mega City: Inside Governor Soludo’s Bold Transformation of Anambra
By Chizoba Njaka
When Governor Chukwuma Soludo took office on March 17, 2022, Anambra State was in crisis. Criminal gangs controlled entire neighborhoods. Residents fled rather than stayed. Schools stood empty.
Roads were craters. And most people saw Anambra not as a place to live—but as a “departure lounge” on the way elsewhere.
Fast-forward to today, and the story is changing fast.
After securing re-election in November 2025, Soludo doubled down on a sweeping agenda to turn Anambra into a prosperous, livable mega city one where people choose to build lives, businesses, and futures.
“Agunechemba”: Bringing Security Home
The first battle was security. The government launched Agunechemba, a homegrown security outfit, passed the Homeland Security Law, and rolled out coordinated operations that pushed criminal gangs out and brought peace back to communities. Relative law and order is now restored across the state.
Roads, Roads, and a Historic Government House:
Hundreds of kilometers of new roads now connect Anambra’s three senatorial zones. But the most symbolic move? For the first time since Anambra was created in 1991, the state is building a permanent, purpose-built Government House and Executive Council Secretariat in Awka a landmark shift from temporary structures to lasting institutions.
Free Schooling, Real Teachers, Free Healthcare:
Soludo’s administration abolished tuition and fees in public primary and junior secondary schools but didn’t stop there. To solve the “schools without teachers” crisis, the state recruited over 8,000 new teachers. On healthcare, free antenatal care and delivery are now available for women in public hospitals.
Young People, Real Skills, Real Money
Through the Solution Innovation District and the “One-Youth-Two-Skills” program, thousands of Anambra youths are now trained in digital and vocational skills. Billions of naira in seed funding have been disbursed to small and medium enterprises turning ideas into businesses.
Smart Money, Big Projects:
By plugging revenue leakages, the government is funding massive projects without blowing the budget. Fiscal discipline is allowing long-term investments to happen now.
The Bottom Line
Soludo’s vision is simple but powerful: make Anambra a place people choose to live, work, and invest not just pass through. With two terms in office, the administration is now consolidating these gains and pushing them further across every corner of the state.
Anambra is no longer just a departure lounge. It’s becoming a destination.