How New York City Got Its Juicy Nickname “The Big Apple” — And What It Means To The World

By Law Mefor

For Ndi-Anambra, who have witnessed a dramatic transformation of their state under the capable hands of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, it is now a kind of bragging right. 'Solution Is Here' is what they say for that reason! 

The people have benefited greatly from the genuine solutions that Governor Soludo's bold and innovative leadership and management of lean resources have brought about. It might be difficult to keep track of Soludo’s uncommon solutions and how they impact Anambra's present and future.

Let’s touch on a few unique ones. The railway is coming as a major component of the state’s transportation masterplan. The first beltway connecting Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, and Awka, with spurs to additional towns, has been designed by the Soludo government. The renowned CPCS Canada, a world leader in infrastructure construction and management, provided consulting for the Anambra railway project.

As seen in the dualisation of the magnificent route from Amawbia to Agulu via Ekwulobia and Uga up to the Imo State border at Akokwa, with a gigantic flyover at Ekwulobia, Mr. Governor is unfazed by the share size of projects. The dualisation of the roads from Agulu to Nnewi and Ozubulu to Okija up to the Onitsha-Owerri expressway, as well as the dualisation of Nwa-Agu Agulu to Nnobi to Nnewi, is proceeding at a fast pace. As far as Soludo is concerned, nothing can impede the growth of Anambra State.

Given Soludo's peerless sense of mission, the vision of Anambra State as a single smart megacity connected by intrastate rail and well-asphalted highways is already coming true. To achieve value reorientation tending towards a new Onye Anambra, the Soludo government is cleansing the state of dangerous native doctors and warped ideologies that fuel criminality. This drive has culminated in what is now called ‘Oso Soludo’ as these categories of criminals are now exiting the state in droves.

According to Mr. Governor, the true enabler of the Anambra Smart Megacity is a sustainable environment. Unquestionably, under Soludo's wise leadership, Anambra is progressing in several areas, including road construction, youth empowerment, cleaner cities, landmark projects, environmental sustainability, and budgetary excellence. It is worth repeating: Solution is here! His every step designed to transform Anambra into a prosperous and livable city, underpinned by some key values of integrity, compassion, inclusiveness. Soludo's leadership style and philosophy is a sort of a blend of neo-Welfarism and Progressivisms.

By targeting not only the criminals but also those who enable them, such as fake Ndi-dibia and false prophets, Governor Soludo is giving the entire nation the lesson it needs to fight insecurity. In addition to insisting that they be put through forensic testing, he has demystified the Okeite magic pot phenomenon. Since all of the criminals, kidnappers, and those who help them are on the run in what has been dubbed "Oso Soludo," the institutions of Udo-Ga-Achi and Agunechemba can be considered the ace of spades because the new security architecture is anchored on a new homeland security law and technology – Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi are based on massive deployment of technology; equipment and investment in logistics.

On his second day in office, Mr. Governor marched into the Okpoko slum in the Onitsha suburb, and between then and now, turned the slum into a haven, complete with asphalted roads, a general hospital, streetlights, pipe-borne and other amenities. Several significant projects, including those at Okpoko, are commissioned during the week-long celebration of the third anniversary of the Soludo government. As you may recall, Okpoko was formerly the largest urban slum east of Niger, home to up to 500,000 people, but lacked all social amenities and facilities. Today, conversely, it has been transformed into a new haven and a symbol of urban renewal.

With the arrival of Governor Soludo, the vibrant metropolis of Onitsha has seen a revitalisation. All of Onitsha's clogged gutters have been cleared of silt, and paved roads are now the norm rather than the exception. Today, the Ochanja market roundabout's water fountain is a pleasure to behold, a pristine offering suitable for leisurely viewing.

On Saturday, November 25, 2023, Soludo created history by becoming the firsti governor of Anambra State to visit Olumbanasa in the Anambra West Local Government Area, which was previously one of the inaccessible parts of the state. Mr Governor said, "My heart brims with emotions so profound they transcend the scope of language," describing the emotional journey he had to make by boat across the waves. Since then, he has added amazing infrastructures to the once-forgotten area and constructed a road that connects the LG’s headquarters in Nzam, which may be the only LG headquarters without a tarred access road. Infrastructure is on a scale unprecedented under Soludo.

Once referred to as a glorified hamlet, the capital city of Awka has seen a full transformation since the introduction of the Soludo Solution. Soludo broke the jinx by constructing the state-of-the-art Government House and Lodge in Awka, 34 years after Anambra State was created. A mini city within the awka city, the government comprises over 30 buildings, which includes an amphitheater that seats over 1000!

The legislative branch's ambience and functionality are being improved by the extensive renovation and modernisation of the State House of Assembly Complex in Awka. Dr Alex Ekwueme Square's ongoing extensive modernisation will improve the square's overall appearance, usability, and liveliness.

The ongoing five urban water schemes—Awka, Otuocha, Nnewi, Obizi, and Greater Onitsha—have brought back pipe-borne water to Anambra. These main Anambra cities now have pipe-borne water again. Potable water is now available for Ndi-Anambra; as the taps are running once again, last seen in the 70s.

The dedication of his administration to fiscal responsibility, which won Soludo a national award, has been a key component of the Soludo solution. The governor has prioritised implementing a "do more with less" strategy, preventing financial leaks, disclosing account statements by legal requirements and reversing recurrent-capital budgetary spending in favour of capital to pave the way for development. The 2024 and 2025 budgets reflect this ratio, with 77% going to capital projects in 2025, the biggest percentage of any Nigerian state. Despite the Anambra House of Assembly's approval to borrow ₦100 billion, Governor Soludo hasn’t accessed it, stating that loans should only be drawn for significant projects with quantifiable returns and with the capacity to repay.

Education and health are now the main focus of Anambra's development plan under Governor Soludo. His administration has aggressively addressed pressing issues and developed an innovative, inclusive educational system that aims to empower all children. Soludo has elevated Anambra beyond most other states by hiring 8115 teachers drawn from 18 states of the federation and establishing free education up to the senior secondary school level. According to him, education is the key to a prosperous and joyful future.

In order to address personnel shortages in the health industry, well over 1000 medical professionals have been hired. Pregnant women now receive free prenatal care and delivery, including caesarean sections. As of February 2025, over 102 thousand women have benefitted from the free antenatal and about 400 caesarean operations.

The farm-to-feed programme is the Soludo solution ace in agriculture. For young people, there is the unique One Youth, Two Skills movement. The Solution Fun City elevates Anambra's standing in the entertainment and leisure industry. Soludo's groundbreaking IT scalable and marketable digital skills and technology also steal the eagle's feather. It is becoming "Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere" as a result of the Solution Innovation District (SID) upskilling and reskilling the youth's IT and digitisation.

The potential of Governor Soludo's Solution Mandate is almost limitless. The fact is that Soludo is establishing Anambra State as Nigeria's undisputed leader in many spheres, which led to 5 national newspapers adopting him as the governor of the year in several development domains. He won awards in several domains like good governance, including innovation and technology, education, health, infrastructure, SMEs, fiscal discipline and transparency, etc.

Naturally, Governor Soludo's livable and thriving homeland would make Anambra a destination of choice rather than a departure lounge, where people may live, work, learn, and enjoy.

For those and more reasons, Ndi Anambra now say, "Solution is here" and call Soludo Mr Solution, with groups including women and students falling over themselves to purchase Professor Chukwuma Soludo's nomination form for a second term.

Soludo is not your regular politician. He is an exceptional and transgressive leader who has relied on unusual methods to attain a new height for Anambra state in less than three years.

•       Law Mefor, PhD, is Anambra State Commissioner for Information.