Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has signalled a major push to revitalise Nnewi through a series of urban renewal projects aimed at reclaiming neglected public assets and restoring the city’s status as a leading industrial hub.
The governor made this known on Wednesday during a tour of the industrial city, which he described as a diagnostic mission to identify infrastructure challenges that have hindered Nnewi’s commercial growth.
Soludo said the planned projects would cut across several critical sectors, with a focus on transforming underutilised land and abandoned public facilities into productive assets that can drive economic activity.
One of the sites visited was the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle, home to a shopping complex that has remained uncompleted and unused for 17 years.
Expressing concern over the condition of the facility, the governor said public assets meant to stimulate commerce should not be left abandoned for decades.
“It is unacceptable that public assets intended to drive commerce have been left to rot for nearly two decades,” Soludo said.
“We are here to draw a line in the sand. This facility will no longer be a monument to neglect; we are moving swiftly to restore it to productive use to serve the people of Nnewi.”
The governor also inspected the Post Office area and High Court premises, noting that his administration plans to integrate such legacy facilities into a broader urban development strategy designed to improve accessibility and public service delivery.
He further visited locations earmarked for strategic housing developments as part of efforts to expand the city’s infrastructure and support future growth.
“Our strategy is simple. We are unlocking the hidden value of Nnewi,” Soludo said.
“By converting dormant open spaces into vibrant public parks and productive facilities, we are not just fixing buildings—we are stimulating local commerce and reclaiming Nnewi’s rightful place as the premier industrial nerve centre of the region.”
The governor was accompanied on the tour by top government officials, including the Commissioner for Works, Arch. Okey Ezeobi; Commissioner for Housing, Architect Henry Arinze; Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi; and the mayors of Nnewi South, Nnewi North and Ekwusigo local government areas.
David-Chyddy Eleke
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