WRITTEN BY HON. TIMOTHY IFEDIORANMA
No doubt, the out gone year, 2018, was a watershed in the history of Anambra State. Governor Willie Obiano and his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, were sworn-in for a second term in office on March 17, 2018 after a historic re-election that has become a landmark in the political narrative of Nigeria. And immediately after the ceremonies, they settled down to the brass task of providing effective leadership for Ndi Anambra.
Indeed, 2018 was also a remarkable year for Nigeria. It was that year that Nigeria came out of the economic recession that ravaged her from 2016. Studies show that the Nigerian Economy has continued to recover from the recession. Similarly, the GDP of our dear State, Anambra, has continued to grow exponentially in comparison to that of the country moving from 1% in 2017 to 6% in 2018. This is not surprising, however. Under the watch of Gov. Obiano, Anambra has become the fourth largest economy in Nigeria.
However, though Nigeria came out of recession, it has not come out of its many domestic challenges. Boko Haram remains a potent threat to the peace and security of the country and a huge discouragement to meaningful investments and goodwill. The colossal loss of human lives caused by the endless clashes between herdsmen and farmers made global headlines and marked Nigeria out as one of the most unsafe places in the world. Equally, torrential flooding swept across coastal communities, submerging huge investments and sweeping away farms and diverse income sources.
In Anambra, 2018 was a milestone for the State. It was the year in which our dear state finally lived out the full meaning of its name as “Light of the Nation” on the world stage. Five school girls from Regina Pacis Model Secondary School took the world by storm when they won the Gold Medal at the World Technovation Challenge in San Francisco, USA. They justified Obiano’s massive investments in education.
Similarly, last year, Amala Ezenwa, a Primary 4 Head Teacher from Awada won the overall Best School Administrator in Nigeria. In that year too, the state government donated huge sum of money to the Catholic and Anglican Churches for interventions in mission schools in the State.
In addition, the Obiano administration maintained a firm handle on the security situation in the state to ensure that Anambra is not displaced as Nigeria’s safest state. Its courageous decision to outlaw commercial motorcyclists in Onitsha and Awka quickly put a strong check on petty crimes in these cities and guaranteed safety for the masses.
Also, shortly after his inauguration, Akpokuedike donated 40 patrol trucks and 50 motor cycles to security agencies to mop up criminals. Similarly, his visionary Cattle Menace Committee ensured that Anambra did not fall victim to the widening circle of violence unleashed by the clashes between herdsmen and farmers. In 2018 too, Anambra doubled the twenty million naira Choose-Your-Project initiative and many communities have completed the projects they chose in the second phase of the project.
Agriculture remained a major pillar of Obiano’s administration. In spite of the menace of flood which washed most of our coastal communities away and swallowed hectares of farmland, major performance indicators point to a positive growth in the 2018 planting season. Rice, yam, Cassava and Maize production as well as Land utilization increased.
There was equally improved infrastructure with the Light-up Anambra Campaign, rural electrification and boost to power supply. The state government also completed many road projects and bridges. Last year, the government achieved the construction of 300 kilometres of roads spread across the 21 LGAs in the State.
Again, after a protracted delay that lasted for one year, the Anambra Airport City Project has finally got underway. The special drone brought in for the aerial survey of the project was seized by the Nigerian Customs in November 2017 and only released in December 2018 through the intervention of Akpokuedike. The seizure had halted the speed with which the project had taken off and sent the wrong signal about its authenticity. But to the glory of God, the drone has been released and work has commenced again by the Chinese. Governor Obiano’s administration also facilitated the full digitization of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), making it the most technologically advanced TV and Radio station in West Africa last year. ABS will be the first broadcast station to move from analogue to digital broadcasting once the National Broadcasting Commission begins the third phase of digital switch-over.  The state government has opened negotiations with Multichoice Limited in Lagos for the addition of ABS to the DSTV platform. Consequently, ABS is undergoing transformation in the Editorial and Programmes Departments, including the procurement of state of the art cameras and materials
Above all, in 2018, Obiano was consistent on prompt payment of salaries and pensions as well as dolling out a bag of rice to every worker and pensioner for Christmas. Pensions have been paid to our senior citizens and recently, the State Civil Service Commission conducted and successfully released the promotions for civil servants.
Last year, the state government equally trained and empowered more than 4000 people on different skills. It has also provided psycho-socio support to more than 4800 orphans and vulnerable children across the 21 LGAs.
No doubt, 2018 was a glorious, but it is expected that 2019 will be more eventful. This will only come through maximum cooperation of the people.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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