Essential Ndubuisi
(1) I join the rest of Ndi Anambra and friends to celebrate the successful landing of the maiden flight at the newly constructed Anambra airport at Umueri.
(2) Like I stated in my earlier statement on March 26, the airport is already here with us and we must now move to the next phase – which is to create economic blocks that will make the airport economically viable.
(3) While I salute Gov. Willie Obiano led government of Anambra state on this airport project, I wish to state that we must now move to the next phase which will turn the airport into a critical development infrastructure. The thing about every infrastructure is that it is either it ends up as an asset or liability to the people. In this case therefore, we have to work out strategies to make it an asset for our projected economic growth.
(4) Accordingly, I wish to reiterate my earlier promise that, if elected Governor of Anambra state by God’s grace, we will focus on providing the right infrastructure and public policy initiatives that will advance our quest to lead the nation’s manufacturing sector. This in turn will boost the state’s export capacity and quicken the development of tourism related activities that will compel more people to use the airport to ensure viability.
(5) God willing, under my watch, Anambra state will strongly encourage primary production in order to have more products to export, especially with the advent of Africa Continental Trade Area (AfCTA).
(6) We will establish Agro processing zone/ industrial park within the Omambala axis which shall focus on Agro production, processing, value chain/addition, etc with international best practices to ensure a fair international market share for products manufactured or cultivated in Anambra state. We will also develop an integrated tourism policy that will attract tourists who will visit the state using the airport.
(7) Major intra-state roads leading to the airport will be reconstructed to make it a first choice for people flying to and fro the state, no matter which part of the state one resides. This will also attract patronage from within neighboring states.
(8) We will, through intergovernmental relations, [state/state and State/Federal] collaborate with the federal and neighboring states governments to rehabilitate or construct inter-state roads, particularly Anambra/Enugu road through Ayamulum LGA; and Anambra/Kogi road through Anambra West LGA to make the airport easily accessible to people from neighboring parts of Kogi and Enugu States.
(9) Let me reiterate that we will dualize Nkwelle Ezunaka / 33 road, from the back of Onitsha GRA to Aguleri Junction, as a deliberate effort to reduce traffic gridlock and avail road users multiple options that will also make the airport more accessible for patrons from Onitsha commercial/industrial cluster.
(10) We will work smartly to improve security in the state through various initiatives that will enhance job availability for young people under our watch.
(11) If elected governor by God’s grace, Anambra state government, under my watch, will pursue strategic urban renewal and infrastructure expansion that will stimulate growth in the state and add value to the airport’s viability.
(12) The general focus is to stimulate economic activities that will fuel aviation transportation activities at the newly constructed Anambra Airport. I so much believe that government is a continuum and we will focus on how to improve whatever we inherit as a government.
(13) I would have been part of those that witnessed the historical arrival of the first flight to the airport at Umueri but for the fact that I was out of the state.
Congratulations, Ndi Anambra.
Engr. Chris Emeka Azubogu (Mr. Project),
April 30, 2021
