# The Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure has expressed concern over a fresh crack around the existing bridge section of the Apaka–3-3 Road, assuring residents that efforts are underway to address the problem.
The Committee Chairman, Engineer Emma Nwafor, disclosed this during an inspection of the 7.5-kilometre road project, where he assessed the ongoing bridge construction, drainage channels and other concerns raised by residents.
Honourable Nwafor noted that work on the project was progressing despite the challenges it posed to human and vehicular movement, adding that the contractor had promised to restore access within the shortest possible time.
Speaking, the Project Manager, Engineer Fola Segun, said the project includes the construction of a new bridge measuring over 20 metres in length.
He explained that work was ongoing on the bridge beams, while piling activities had been delayed by rainfall.
According to him, the weak approach slab would be broken up to allow the contractor to refill and compact the affected area in layers before recasting the slab.
Segun stated that the project was expected to be completed within 16 months, adding that the road shoulders had already been filled.
# Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Charles Ofoegbu, has applauded the proposed gas pipeline project by Gas Sync Ltd, saying that the initiative will contribute significantly to the state’s industrial and energy development.
Professor Ofoegbu, who gave the applause while receiving in audience, a team from Gas Sync Ltd, in his office at the Jerome Udoji state Secretariat Awka, said he was impressed by the progress already made on the project, particularly efforts concerning Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, right-of-way and community engagement.
Commissioner Ofoegbu, who assured the team of the state government’s willingness to align with the project as efforts intensify to expand gas infrastructure and strengthen industrial energy supply in the state, assured his willingness to facilitate the transmission of the company’s project proposal to the state government and ensure that it receives the attention of the committee responsible for gas-to-energy, gas-to-power and industrial development.
He highlighted his extensive experience in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry and promised the team that relevant stakeholders, including gas producers and industry operators, could be engaged to explore reliable gas supply options for the proposed project.
The leader of the team, who is also the Project Director of Gas Sync Ltd, Mr. Adebola Martins, disclosed plans to develop a major pipeline natural gas infrastructure connecting parts of the South-East, as part of efforts to improve access to reliable energy for industries in the region.
According to Mr Martins, the proposed pipeline would originate from the gas processing facility at Ohaji in Imo State, through Owerri and Aba, and extend to Anambra before proceeding to Enugu and Ebonyi States to address the long-standing challenge of limited pipeline gas infrastructure in the South-East, despite the region’s proximity to abundant natural gas resources.
# The Anambra State Government says it will not spend additional public funds repairing defective portions of newly constructed roads that remain within their contractors’ defect liability period.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arch. Okey Ezeobi stated this during an inspection of the Amawbia- Agulu road, which has experienced deterioration in some sections due to water-related challenges.
Ezeobi explained that the road had not been formally handed over to the state government because the construction company remained responsible for addressing defects identified within the stipulated liability period.
According to him, the policy requires newly constructed roads to undergo at least one rainy season to expose weaknesses that may not be apparent immediately after construction.
He said the current rainy season would help identify vulnerable sections of the road, adding that the contractor was expected to resolve the failures before handing over the project to the state government.
He assured residents that all identified road failures would be addressed, insisting that the state government would not incur additional expenditure on repairs covered by the contractors’ obligations.
The commissioner attributed the road’s challenges partly to the area’s geological conditions, explaining that the road runs through a low lying, flood prone stretch where water accumulates and damages asphalt surfaces.
# Anambra State Government says its plan to develop three operational airports by 2070 is aimed at preparing the state for future population growth and expanding economic activities.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, disclosed this at the 2026 conference of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Anambra State Chapter, while explaining the rationale behind the state’s long term aviation development plan.
Ezeobi said the second airport was under construction, while the government was securing land for a proposed third airport as part of its Vision 2070 development blueprint.
He explained that the government was looking beyond present aviation demands to anticipate the infrastructure requirements of a growing population and economy.
According to the commissioner, failure to plan ahead could result in capacity constraints, with airlines potentially unable to accommodate additional flights due to limited space and scheduling challenges.
He said the long term plan was designed to ensure that aviation infrastructure would not become a barrier to the state’s future development.
The commissioner’s remarks come amid public interest in the need for a second airport in Anambra, with the government maintaining that infrastructure planning must take account of future demands rather than current requirements alone.
# The contractor handling the construction and dualisation of the Aerotropolis City Road project has mobilised to the site, marking a significant step towards the commencement of work on the road, on October 7.
During a visit to the site, heavy-duty machinery, including excavators, pay loaders, backhoes and other earthmoving equipment, was being transported to the project location by personnel of Ag. Vision Construction Limited.
The 24.03-kilometre project, which includes the construction of two bridges, will run from Coca-Cola Road, Agu-Awka, to Aerotropolis City in Ndikelionwu. The project aligns with Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration’s commitment to building a livable and prosperous homeland.
Speaking on the development, a road user, Mr Emmanuel Okonkwo, described the project as a welcome development, expressing optimism about its potential benefits to residents and road users.
According to him, the road project is expected to open up new districts, ease traffic flow within the capital territory and accelerate socioeconomic development.
The dualisation project also underscores Governor Soludo’s urban regeneration agenda, which seeks to transform Awka into a modern, smart megacity.
# The Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bar. Chijioke Ojukwu, has described the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, as unfortunate.
The incident, which occurred in the Anata Anaba area of the town, claimed the lives of a middle-aged woman and her 14-year-old daughter, amid allegations that warnings about the safety of the building had been ignored.
The victims, identified as Happiness Ugoagu and her daughter, Chikaima, were reportedly asleep in their bedroom when the building collapsed onto their residence.
He also called on stakeholders, parents, teachers and communities to promote the empowerment of girls, uphold their human rights and ensure that their needs and challenges are adequately addressed.
Maintaining that “girls with dreams become women with vision, purpose and impact,” Udeze advocated lasting solutions to the barriers confronting girls, including discrimination, violence and inequality.
# The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting the rights of the girl child, promoting her empowerment and creating opportunities for her to thrive.
Onyekesi stated this in her message commemorating the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, where she highlighted the need for increased investment in girls’ education, healthcare, safety, protection and overall development.
The Commissioner noted that every girl deserves to grow up in an environment where her rights are respected, her voice is heard and her aspirations are supported, stressing that empowering girls is essential to building stronger families and a more prosperous society.
She called on parents, schools, communities, government institutions and other stakeholders to work collectively to protect girls from abuse, exploitation, violence and discrimination while ensuring that they have access to quality education and opportunities to achieve their full potential.
According to her, the celebration serves as a reminder that girls are not merely beneficiaries of development but also vital contributors to the future of Anambra State and Nigeria.
Ojukwu, who visited the scene alongside officials of the ministry, alleged that substandard materials had been used in the construction. He also disclosed that a stop-work notice had previously been served on the building.
Describing the structure as illegal, the commissioner ordered its demolition, alongside other unapproved buildings under construction in the area.
# The Anambra State Government has called for transparency and accountability in the identification of genuine farmers as it flagged off the FarmerMoni enumeration exercise for the South-East, aimed at building a credible database for the Federal Government’s agricultural support programme.
The exercise held at Best Western Meloch Hotel, Awka, was coordinated by the Anambra State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. It will help authorities identify eligible farmers, document their locations and farming activities, and improve the planning and delivery of agricultural support.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Chukwukadibia Okoye, stressed the need for accurate data to ensure that qualified farmers were identified and given fair consideration.
He assured that the state would collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure that eligible farmers in Anambra were not excluded from available intervention programmes.
The National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Hamza Ibrahim Baba, explained that FarmerMoni was designed to provide eligible smallholder farmers with interest-free, collateral-free financing of up to ₦300,000 to support productive agricultural activities.
Baba clarified that the facility was not a grant, noting that beneficiaries were expected to use the funds for farming purposes and repay them in accordance with the programme’s terms.
He urged local government desk officers and enumerators to uphold professionalism and accountability, warning against favouritism and any form of discrimination based on political affiliation, religion or ethnicity.
# The Anambra State Head of Service, Mrs. Ngozi Anuli Iwouno, has announced activities for the 2026 Anambra State Public Service Week Celebration, featuring a novelty football competition and a call for entries for a public service anthem.
The celebration, themed “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation and Inclusion,” has the sub-theme, “The Anambra Public Servant: An Engine of Change for a Clean, Green and Sustainable Environment”.
According to a circular issued by the Office of the Head of Service, public servants are invited to submit original anthem entries in English or Igbo, highlighting professionalism, integrity, service, innovation, commitment and pride in the Anambra State Public Service.
The celebration will also feature the 2026 Solution Novelty Cup, a seven-a-side male and female football competition involving selected ministries in a knockout format.
The preliminary matches are scheduled for October 15, 16 and 22, while the grand finale will hold on October 30 at Awka City Stadium. Public servants are expected to attend the final event.
The competition will feature teams from various ministries, with the Office of the Head of Service and Light House scheduled to meet in the grand finale, alongside selected winning teams.
# The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, has called for increased legislation and equal access to education to empower the girl child and create opportunities for girls to achieve their full potential.
Udeze made the call in his goodwill message to mark the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Madu.
The Speaker urged the Federal Government to prioritise equal access to education by providing girls with the necessary tools, supportive environments and opportunities to succeed.
