AfDB ACP: Awka Set for Smart City Revolution as International Experts Arrive Anambra, Begin Comprehensive Urban Assessment

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The implementation of the African Development Bank (AfDB)-backed African Cities Programme in Awka, Anambra State capital, on Monday, gathered significant momentum as officials of Acciona, the Spanish-based urban planning and infrastructure consulting firm engaged by the AfDB, arrived Awka and commenced a series of strategic stakeholder engagements aimed at laying the foundation for the city’s transformation into a modern, sustainable, smart and investment-ready city.

The visiting delegation comprised Deputy Project Leader and Urban Planner at Acciona, Ms. Elisa Maceratini, from Spain; Environmental Specialist, Ms. Carolina Ferrandis, also from Spain; the City Coordinator for the initiative and Urban Development Specialist, Tpl. Mohammad (Kabi) Yari, who is also a former two-term National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP); prominent Town Planner and Gender Specialist, Tpl. Onyinyechi Egbuna; as well as Assistant Registrar at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr. Obinna Ubadike.

The delegation, which arrived the Anambra’s capital to kickstart the programme’s implementation process, began its official engagements at the headquarters of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), where they were received by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Dr. Ossy Onuko.

Also present to welcome the delegation were the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Investment and former Commissioner for Industry, Hon. Christian Udechukwu; the representative of the Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Offornze D. Amucheazi (SAN), senior management staff of ACTDA, among other key government officials.

The visit, it was gathered, marks a major milestone in the implementation phase of the African Cities Programme, a flagship initiative of the African Development Bank designed to strengthen urban planning systems, enhance institutional capacity and prepare rapidly growing African cities for sustainable infrastructure financing and long-term economic development.

Recall that, Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, recently made history as it emerged the first and only city in Nigeria selected as beneficiary of the prestigious and highly competitive continental programme, after successfully meeting the AFDB’s stringent criteria on governance, institutional capacity, urban development potential and government commitment.

Speaking during an engagement with the delegation and other key stakeholders on Monday, the ACTDA Boss, Dr. Onuko, provided an overview of the initiative and the efforts that culminated in Awka’s selection, explaining that the state government had consistently pursued inclusion in the programme over the years before the city was eventually admitted following rigorous evaluation by the Urban and Municipal Development Fund acting on behalf of the African Development Bank.

While describing the inclusion as another mega win for Anambra under the Solution Government, he explained that the initiative goes beyond physical infrastructure, focusing fundamentally on land use planning, governance systems and infrastructure development, which together form the pillars of sustainable urban transformation.

According to him, the programme will produce a comprehensive City Action Plan that will serve as a strategic blueprint for developing bankable projects capable of attracting financing from international development institutions and private investors.

Dr. Onuko identified several priority intervention areas proposed by the state government, including the construction of about 10,000 mass housing units under the Awka 2.0 initiative to tackle the growing accommodation deficit in the capital city.

Other proposed development priorities, he said, include the establishment of a modern Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)-based mass transit system, expansion of e-governance infrastructure, large-scale reforestation programmes to improve aesthetics and combat erosion, urban water supply schemes, integrated waste-to-wealth and recycling initiatives, sustainable power solutions and tourism infrastructure capable of unlocking the city’s economic potential.

He noted that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration remains committed to building a liveable and prosperous homeland through strategic partnerships, smart urban planning and sustainable development initiatives capable of improving the quality of life for residents while also attracting investments into the state.

Also speaking during the engagement, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Investment and former Commissioner for Industry, Hon. Christian Udechukwu, who gave an overview of the Awka’s industrial landscape and investment potentials, described the African Cities Programme as a strategic opportunity that aligns perfectly with the Solution Government’s economic development blueprint and investment attraction agenda. He noted that Governor Soludo’s administration has consistently pursued strategic partnerships capable of unlocking sustainable development in the state.

While also providing further overview of the state government’s relationships, engagements and partnerships with other multinational institutions in certain key areas of interest, the Special Adviser, who emphasized that modern cities and societies thrive on deliberate planning backed by credible data and internationally bankable projects, further expressed optimism that the initiative would significantly enhance Awka’s competitiveness as an emerging investment destination.

Endorsing the priority area highlighted by the ACTDA, Dr. Udechukwu also expressed confidence that the initiative would catalyse investments across the housing, transportation, energy, tourism and other critical sectors, while also accelerating the vision of building a smart, prosperous and globally competitive capital city.

On his own part, the representative of the State’s Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Amucheazi, reiterated the government’s readiness to provide institutional support and policy coordination necessary for the successful implementation of the programme.

Earlier speaking on behalf of Acciona, a member of the visiting delegation and Environmental Specialist from Spain, Carolina Ferrandis, explained that the mission was essentially diagnostic in nature, aimed at identifying the city’s priority needs through evidence-based technical assessments and stakeholder consultations.

She noted that the team would undertake comprehensive studies of Awka’s urban systems, environmental challenges and infrastructure gaps in order to recommend sustainable and inclusive interventions capable of delivering long-term development outcomes.

According to her, the exercise would involve collaboration with government agencies, communities and key stakeholders to ensure that the eventual development roadmap reflects the realities and aspirations of the people.

According to officials, the Acciona assignment is expected to run for months, during which the consultants will undertake comprehensive city diagnostics, technical studies, stakeholder engagements, institutional assessments and extensive data collection across the Awka Capital Territory. The exercise, she said, will culminate in the preparation of a detailed City Action Plan (CAP), a strategic document expected to generate a pipeline of bankable infrastructure projects that can attract financing from the African Development Bank, other international development partners and private sector investors.

Following the meeting at ACTDA headquarters, the team, led by Dr. Onuko, proceeded on courtesy visits to top government functionaries, beginning with the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Chiamaka Nnake.

Welcoming the delegation, the SSG observed that the Awka being witnessed today bears very little resemblance to the city inherited by the Soludo Administration, citing the massive transformation already recorded across critical sectors. She, however, described the housing deficit as one of the capital city’s most pressing challenges, noting that Awka currently has a fastest-rising population density in the South-East and that the cost of accommodation has risen to levels comparable with major parts of Lagos.

She therefore commended and also endorsed the proposal for mass housing development, as well as the proposed interventions in transportation, tourism and other sectors, revealing that the state government had already conceptualised several of the projects and even developed preliminary designs for some of them.

According to her, the African Cities Programme would accelerate the actualisation of those aspirations while complementing Governor Soludo’s broader vision of making Anambra a liveable and prosperous homeland and a smart mega city where people can comfortably live, work, study, invest, relax and enjoy.

The delegation, thereafter, also visited the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Senator Ben Nwankwo, who described the development of Awka as a priority that remains close to Governor Soludo’s heart. He noted that Awka has emerged as one of the fastest-growing cities in the South-East, while Anambra continues to distinguish itself nationally through prudent fiscal management, governance reforms and aggressive infrastructure development.

The Chief of Staff highlighted the significance of each of the proposed intervention areas, expressing confidence that the initiative would significantly complement the state’s ongoing development agenda and further strengthen Awka’s competitiveness as a first-class capital city. He also expressed optimism that Governor Soludo would be delighted to see the programme successfully implemented and the envisioned projects translated into realities that would positively impact residents for generations.

As part of the stakeholder engagement strategy, the delegation also visited the President-General of Awka Town Union, Chief Fredrick Nwanneka Chinwuba (Alufuoaku), who received the team alongside members of the town union executive, including the Vice President, Chief Chukwunenye Nwangwu, Assistant Secretary, Hon. Chief Obiora Anueyiagu, and Provost, Hon. Chief Emeka Onyeoka.

Speaking during the interaction, the PG, who traditionally treated the delegation to a warm reception and fresh palm-wine, expressed joy over Awka’s selection into the African Cities Programme, describing it as a historic opportunity capable of accelerating the city’s development trajectory.

He assured the visiting experts of the full cooperation and support of the Awka community, stressing that community ownership and participation would be critical to the programme’s success.

The leadership of the Town Union also identified some additional priorities of the community requiring urgent attention, including the construction of internal roads and modern drainage systems, installation of CCTV surveillance infrastructure, urban water schemes, rehabilitation of schools, deployment of drone technology to strengthen security architecture, youth empowerment and skills acquisition centres, and expanded housing development.

The African Cities Programme is expected to continue throughout the week with extensive stakeholder consultations, technical assessments and data collection exercises across Awka.

As part of the week’s activities, a major technical workshop bringing together government officials, development experts, professional bodies and other stakeholders has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at the ACTDA Headquarters, in Awka.

The workshop is expected to deepen consultations on the preparation of the City Action Plan, refine priority investment areas and strengthen institutional collaboration as Awka positions itself to attract substantial local and international financing for transformative infrastructure projects.

With the kick-off of the implementation phase, expectations abound that Awka’s historic admission into the African Development Bank’s African Cities Programme has moved beyond policy aspiration into practical execution, opening a new chapter in the city’s journey towards becoming a resilient, inclusive, climate-smart and globally competitive capital city.

More photos from the visits:

Related