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By Madu Obi
The densely populated shantytown of Okpoko in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, considered to be Nigeria's biggest slum, is gradually turning to be a liveable town, thanks to the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, who is fulfilling the promise he made to the residents during his electioneering campaign.
In the last two years of his administration, Soludo has constructed several kilometres of roads, installed street lights and provided pipe borne water at strategic locations, which the area had never enjoyed for decades.
The governor is also constructing a General Hospital in the area to bring health care delivery closer to the people.
Addressing the people at the St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church ground in the area, Soludo lamented that over a million people residing in Okpoko had been deprived of basic facilities over the years, assuring them that his government would never look back in providing them the necessary social amenities.
He recalled that Okpoko was the first place he visited immediately after his inauguration as governor in 2022, pointing out that before now, people spent hours moving around the community due to the deplorable condition of its roads as it had adversely affected commercial activities in the area.
Addressing the people, Soludo said: “I have come here again. Two years ago, I was here. Okpoko is one of the reasons that kept hope alive for me.
This is the biggest urban slum in Nigeria, with no facility and I decided that when God makes me governor, Okpoko will be my first port of call, which was why on my inauguration day, I came here and we started clearing the gutters and drainages.
“We are very optimistic that the infrastructure would stimulate the economy and improve the life of the people of the area."
“What I want to tell Okpoko people is that they have not seen anything yet. About 15 kilometres of roads are ongoing simultaneously. You have never had health facility, but today a General Hospital is being built for you."
As we were driving through the streets of Okpoko, I stopped at several places to turn on pipe borne water and they were running.
“Since time immemorial Okpoko people have not drank pipe borne water. This is the first time the people of Okpoko are having pipe borne water and a General Hospital. We are committed to making Okpoko great because it is part of Anambra State."
“Everywhere in Okpoko is now illuminated as the solar-powered street lights are working, which has brought night life to Okpoko."
“The children of the poor must be given the same opportunity that the children of the rich have, and that is why we are giving free basic education across the state. Every child will now be able to access medical care free of charge. With the coming of pipe borne water, typhoid fever will go.”
The governor said he would also rebuild Onitsha so that it can regain its status as the biggest market in West Africa.
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