Anambra at 35: Offodile laments erosion menace, low IGR, soaring rent, brain drain

As Anambra State marks the 35th anniversary of its creation on Thursday, an Executive Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Chudi Offodile, has lamented the menace of erosion and other environmental issues in the state.

He also lamented the low internally generated revenue of the state, soaring house rents and brain drain, saying they constitute some of the most pressing problems facing Anambra State as it marks 35 years of creation.

In a congratulatory message to Ndi Anambra, Offodile, however, described the state’s development journey as impressive, saying the state has justified the clamour for its creation by its founding fathers.

He noted that while appreciable progress had been made in the past 35 years, there was still serious work to be done to place the state on a firm footing, especially in the areas earlier mentioned.

He said: “I congratulate my fellow citizens on the gains achieved so far. After a troubling start, we’ve been able to achieve a unity of purpose. Our reasoned premium on competent leadership is not a small gain. It’s the foundation of our headway in administration and modernisation since 2003.

“We acknowledge past and present administrations for their contributions. We have had accountable governments. The state has gained in physical structures. The practice of political inclusivity has fostered a sense of fairness and peace. Now, where do we go from here?”

Identifying areas of next emphasis, he said: “The erosion threat is still there. It calls for multi, long-term action. The urgency of the problem is seen from the fact that the state has a small land mass. Another is low internally generated revenue. This has proved an uphill task for every regime. It has to be addressed if we truly want development. There is also the housing crisis. Ninety per cent of households in our urban towns are groaning under high rents and insufficient residential accommodation. The situation calls for a new approach to the problem.

“Education is our key industry. Every year, we produce thousands of graduates and postgraduates. But they soon migrate to other places to practise their skills. So we need to reposition to benefit from their services.”

Offodile commended Governor Charles Soludo for rising above the constraints of the time to register bold steps in development.

“Credit goes to the Soludo administration for taking the state to a new level. The Anambra Mixed Industrial City and Solution Innovation District are landmark undertakings. This is the first time we’re having an industrial park. Organised production and commerce is good news for the economy. Likewise, the entrepreneurship energy to be unleashed by the innovation venture are great stories in development. And with other strides in social amenities, there’s a bright future for Anambra State.”