By Ayomide Otitoju
Anambra State is set for a vibrant and secure festive season following months of coordinated preparations by the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, according to the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime.
Aburime said the state’s readiness reflects deliberate governance and sustained investments across critical sectors, positioning Anambra as an attractive destination for residents, returnees, investors and tourists during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
He noted that visible improvements in infrastructure, security, healthcare, transportation and tourism have combined to create an environment conducive to peaceful and enjoyable festivities across the state.
According to him, road rehabilitation projects have intensified across major urban centres, with key routes in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and surrounding communities receiving significant attention. Township roads have been restored to ease traffic flow and improve accessibility, particularly as residents return from cities such as Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt for the holidays.
“These road improvements are not only easing festive movement but also reflect the Soludo administration’s long-term commitment to connectivity and sustainable development,” Aburime said.
He added that markets, the backbone of Anambra’s commercial activity, have also benefited from targeted interventions. Major trading hubs, including Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja, Eke Awka and Nkwo Nnewi, have recorded enhanced sanitation, improved organisation and reconfigured access routes to reduce congestion. Traders, he said, are fully stocked in anticipation of increased patronage during the season.
On security, Aburime said the state government has strengthened its architecture through a coordinated approach involving security agencies and community structures. He noted that joint patrols have become more visible in urban centres and high-traffic areas, while checkpoints have been reorganised and community vigilante groups have intensified monitoring efforts to ensure public safety.
The health sector, he added, has also been placed on heightened readiness. Major hospitals, including the state teaching hospital and other healthcare facilities, have strengthened emergency response capacities to cope with possible increases in patient numbers during the festive period.
Transportation and mobility have similarly received attention, with improved management at key hubs. Aburime said the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, has witnessed increased activity, while major motor parks such as Upper Iweka, Ekwulobia Terminal, Solution Park at Aroma and Unizik Junction are operating under more orderly loading systems, supported by strategic deployment of traffic officers.
In the tourism and hospitality sector, Aburime said hotels, entertainment centres and recreational facilities are experiencing increased patronage, driven by the enabling environment created by the state government. He listed facilities such as Golden Tulip Krypton Villa Hotel and Suites, Vegas Astoria, Solution Fun City, Agulu Lake, the Anambra Country Club and the newly opened Ikenga Mall as beneficiaries of recent environmental and infrastructural improvements.
Communities across the state, he said, are also organising cultural festivals, carol services and end-of-year events, complemented by the state government’s festive calendar branded “Onwa Dezemba,” which runs into the first week of January.
Aburime said what distinguishes this year’s festive season is the collective atmosphere of preparedness across ministries, agencies, businesses and communities, all working towards a peaceful and enjoyable celebration.
“For the thousands returning home from within Nigeria and the diaspora, the message is clear: Anambra is ready to welcome you with confidence,” he said.
He added that under Governor Soludo’s leadership, the state offers not only the promise of festivities but the assurance of safety, accessibility and shared prosperity during the Christmas season.
