Anambra State is known with its three major cosmopolitan cities-Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi. But, the equation is changing as Ekwulobia is taking a space on the table as the fourth cosmopolitan city.
There are nine villages in the two quarters that make up Ekwulobia. The two quarters are Ezi and Ifite. The villages under Ezi are Umuchiana, Umuchi, Okpo, Nkono, Abogwume, and Ihuokpala, while the villages in Ifite are Agba, Ula, and Eziagulu.
Ekwulọbịa also boasts of the qualities of a cosmopolitan city: a central park, a large daily market, numerous primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions, hotels and resorts, a prison, a soccer stadium, and Ekwulobia General Hospital. The city also plays host to an Anglican and Roman Catholic Cathedrals. In fact, with the creation of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia as a Cardinal by Pope Francis, the city is now easily recognizable on the world map.
A major road intersection called Ekwulobia Roundabout is a meeting point for people from various parts of Anambra State and beyond. It has motor parks housing transport companies that convey travellers to different parts of the country including Awka, Umuahia, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Benin City, Enugu, Lagos, Abakaliki and Owerri.
High volumes of business and economic activities thrive around the park and market. One can purchase fresh fruits, electronics, fashion wears, building materials, furniture, household and other assorted items at affordable prices in the city. The city is populated by civil servants, traders, students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, artisans and bankers.
It, thus, becomes important that this emerging city is not allowed to grow into another self help city without government providing the necessary infrastructure that will sustain its booming economic activities. This is why Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in line, with his manifesto, saw Ekwulobia as a city that must be given the necessary wings to fly. As a result, sometime in October, 2022, Anambra State Executive Council approved and awarded contracts for the construction of a flyover at Ekwulobia to decongest the traffic usually experienced at the popular roundabout.
The project will also include the construction of adjoining roads such as the Nanka-Ekwulobia-Aguata Council Area Headquarters’ two kilometer road and Ekwulobia-Isuofia one-point-one-two-five-kilometer road. The project will also have other ancillary structures and facilities including a modern bus terminal, fuel station, security office, fire station and other external works, such as sewage treatment facilities, drainage, landscaping, among others. All the construction work will be handled by A.V. Vision Construction Nigeria Limited.
When completed in eighteen months, the Ekwulobia Hub will turn into a major economic zone in the state.
During his speech at the flag-off ceremony of the project on Friday March 17, 2023 which coincided with the one year anniversary of his administration, Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo underscored the importance of Ekwulọbịa to the development of Old Aguata. He regretted that the city is now a shadow of itself but rejoiced that the when completed, the Ekwulobia hub project will put the city back in its pride of place. He revealed that the contractors have been mobilized with 30% of the contract sum and therefore are expected to get to work immediately.
According to the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okoma, the bus terminal that will be built in the location will have the capacity to house one hundred buses at a go.
It goes without saying that when the project is completed, it will be a game changer and enthrone more prosperity in Ekwulobia and environs in particular and the state in general.
WRITTEN BY EJIKE ABANA
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