Governor Obiano says Anambra blessed with the highest gas reserves in Africa

Governor Willie Obiano yesterday said Anam­bra state community of Igbariam in Anam­bra East has the highest untapped deposit of gas in Africa based on empirical records.

Obiano announced this at a press conference to mark the 25 years Silver Jubilee of the crea­tion of the state at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s of­fice.

Obiano praised previous gov­ernments for its contribution to the development of Anambra and assured his team would leave Anambra state the children of to­day would be proud of in net 25 years when it would be marking its Golden Jubilee.

He assured that with the good work he is doing with his team, Anambra would be an investment destination and Taiwan of Africa in net 25 years when the oil pro­ducing state of the state would have been manifest.

The Anambra state Governor further informed that the state in­deed exported vegetables after a team from the UK championed by Captain John Okakpu trained the local farmers spread in 7 commu­nities with Ololo being the van­tage of the communities.

He informed the group signed an agreement of 18 years with the local farmers to be culti­vating for export.

He announced his plans to embark of massive husbandry of local animals including cattle, and goat to place the local farmers at an advantage even pointing out the local breeds are more nutritious.

He stated that his govern­ment last year distributed seed­lings and cassava stems worth N200 Million.

On the erosion menace in South-East, Obiano lamented that his state was the worst hit as An­ambra alone has 972 Active ero­sion sites, while Imo state has 27, and less in some other states.

He, however, said his admin­istration has been able to attract attention from NEWMAP to 12 sites even though they inherited 4 sites from last administration.

He pointed out that one-fifth (1/5) Anambra land has been washed away by erosion, where­as Lagos state is recovering land from the sea.

Obiano announced the imme­diate release of the state Corre­spondents bus he promised last year regretting he was not in the know the bus was not released.

He said the state would as part of 25 years anniversary name some streets after some individ­uals in the state for their feats in bringing glory to the state in var­ious ways in the past.

Some part of the speech he read earlier before taking ques­tions from newsmen read in part: ‘’My hope is anchored on the fact that 25 years is a milestone in the history of individuals, groups, and societies. It calls for deep intro­spection, stocktaking, and projec­tions. It is a veritable crossroads in Time where we usually pause to hatch new dreams.

“For any responsible admin­istration, events like the Silver Ju­bilee Anniversary usually come in handy for the renewal of the social contract between the gov­ernment and the people.

“This Anniversary has of­fered my Team and I a chance to renew our pact with Ndi Anam­bra and strengthen our commit­ment to the emergence of a more prosperous state.

“Some of you were old enough when Anambra State came into existence 25 years ago. Some of you must have wit­nessed the sudden rise in our people’s hopes; some of you must have heard the liberation songs on the lips our mothers who saw the new state as the fulfilment of their aspirations.

“Gentlemen of the press, 25 years after, Anambra has trav­elled through a hard road paved with agony and pain to the prom­ise of a new day. This anniversa­ry celebration will be more sym­bolic and less showy of what our dear state stands for.

“Consequently, we have de­signed a tight programme of ac­tivities that will begin from to­morrow, August 27 and end in December this year. From to­morrow these are the things we will do.

“We shall begin the day with a Special Anniversary Broadcast that will put the entire Anambra @25 in a proper perspective.

“After that we shall flag off the one million-Tree Planting Campaign. Then, we shall lay the foundation for the Oxygen Project Plant of the Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital.

“We shall flag off the N20m project per community initia­tive. All these are the activities for the Anniversary Day. The cel­ebration continues till December this year.

“A Cultural Carnival has also been scheduled to take place in the three Senatorial Districts during this period with a Grand Finale of the Festival billed for December. There will be a Spe­cial Lighting of the Christmas Tree on November 25 and an Interdenominational Service on November 26,” he stated.