Anambra indigenes in the Federal Capital city of Abuja and environs gave an exciting overwhelming standing ovation to Gov Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano at the weekend during his maiden townhall meeting in the city.
Therein, he reeled out his achievements as well as his march to the promised land.
The charismatic helmsman had in his opening remark reminded the audience that his vision has remained to make the State the First Choice investment destination and a hub for industrialization and commercial activities in the country.
According to him, “…we also defined our Mission as to make Anambra State a socially stable, business-friendly environment that would attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth-creating opportunities.
“From these two statements, it is clear that my administration truly wants to build a strong and prosperous state, not from the riches that lie underneath the soil but essentially from the infinite possibilities that lie between our ears.
“It is clear that we want to challenge our people’s famous enterprising spirit by creating a conducive environment that would enable their diverse talents find expression on home soil…”
The governor also reiterated that his administration’s economic blueprint made up of Four Pillars of Development; “including Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade and Commerce and Oil and Gas.
“The Four Pillars are supported by Twelve Enablers, made up of; Security, Education, Health, Roads and Social Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, the Environment, Transport, Finance, Electricity, Women’s Welfare, Tourism, and Youth development and Entrepreneurship.
“The Vision and Mission Statements coalesced into the Four Pillars of Development and their Twelve Enablers. Ndi Anambra, these two components make up my Social Contract with my good people of Anambra State.
Taking them one after the other, Gov Obiano gave an overview thus:
SECURITY:
Long before I was sworn in as your Governor, I knew that my administration would not make its mark if we didn’t find a way to tackle Security.
So, when I took the oath of office, I assured Ndi Anambra that under my watch, we would “redraft the operational manual of the entire security apparatchik of Anambra State to ensure a lightning-quick response.”
And that was exactly what we did.
We launched Operation Kpochapu and organised an International Security Summit that attracted a top Israeli security expert, Moshe Keinan as the key facilitator.
Then, we launched an all-out war against crime and criminality in the state, pulling down the warehouses where kidnappers kept their human cargoes and running them out of town.
We were so clinical that we did not only detect and cut off their weapons supply lines but we also tracked a notorious kidnapper to Lagos and picked him up inside a South African bound aircraft. That sounded a loud warning to the underworld.
We turned our efforts into a Regional Campaign when in August last year we successfully hosted a Regional Security Summit for the five South Eastern states and the Delta.
We figured that Anambra would be safer if other surrounding states were safe enough.
In December last year, we raised the game in our security campaign when we donated 25 Smart Cars to the Nigerian Police.
These cars are Command & Control Centres with ultra-modern crime-bursting gadgets.
We donated a Gunboat to the Nigerian Navy to ensure a regular patrol across the water channels and seal off all the routes used by criminals.
In December last year, we launched an aerial surveillance with a Police Helicopter throughout the Yuletide Season.
With this last effort, we made sure that Anambra was effectively covered on the ground, in the waters and in the skies.
With that effort too, Anambra became the safest state in Nigeria! Umu nnem, the import of our achievement in security is that we have won the psychological war!
The essence of security is to feel SAFE! Our people now feel safe to move around the state at whatever time of day or night…
ANSIPPA AND ANAMBRA’S EMERGING INDUSTRIAL MAP:
One of the great initiatives that have enriched the new narrative in Anambra so far is the formation of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA).
This is the ultimate one-stop investment boutique of Anambra State.
On the Board of ANSIPPA are renowned investment bankers, business analysts, the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Lands.
ANSIPPA has the mandate of attracting investments and fast-tracking the process of investing in Anambra State.
The agency has so far attracted over $4.2bn investments to Anambra State.