…Residents, traders, sing Soludo’s praises

..Properties in the area have appreciated in value residents

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

FOR over 50 years, the densely populated urban area known as Okpoko community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State remained a slum and neglected by successive state and local government authorities.

It was seen as a place for the lowest cadre in the society, deprived of social amenities. Simply put, it was a place for the bad, the ugly, and the no good.

Because of the neglect, criminal elements found it a comfortable place to hide. Crimes of all sorts were taking place there. Culprits of most crimes in Onitsha then, were traced to Okpoko. Okpoko was just synonymous with dirtiness and bad news, despite thriving markets around it.

From the military to successive civilian administrations, there were no developmental budgets to ameliorate the situation and give the residents some sense of belonging. They continued to encounter various difficulties ranging from armed robbery attacks, flood disasters, mosquito and snake bites, as well as other natural and physical disasters. They kept hoping against hope.

Due to the abject neglect, the poorest of the poor settled in Okpoko because house rents were as cheap as in typical rural areas without good access roads, pipe-borne water, lack of electricity, and other necessities of life. It was also populated by mentally-challenged people, petty traders, the less privileged , beggars, and people with all manner of characters.

Today, Okpoko is a new story. It has turned into a place where decent human beings would proudly own up to living. The area has gradually turned into a new haven courtesy of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration.

On assumption of office, Soludo promised to transform Okpoko from a neglected slum to a livable urban city with all necessary facilities. About two years into his administration, he actually moved to remodel Okpoko. With the buying in of the residents, illegal structures blocking existing drainages were removed, giving way for expansion of the roads.

Roads were constructed with street lights, water, hospitals, and schools were built or rehabilitated and well-equipped. There is indeed today in Okpoko a touch of modernity and the people are happy.

Confirming the development, a major stakeholder in the community, Chief Okechukwu Odidika, said it is a thing of joy that Okpoko is fast transforming into an urban area from its former status as a slum.

Odidika who commended Governor Soludo for his timely intervention, noted that lands and buildings in some parts of Okpoko now go for between N700m and N1b, as against N5m to N10m as a result of the provision of infrastructure.

“That was why Okpoko gave Governor Soludo the highest number of votes during his second tenure election in November, 2025,” he said.

“As we speak,” Odidika continued, “there is pipe-borne water in Okpoko as against the dry pipes witnessed in the area over the years. Soludo has taken Okpoko out of the slum. He has rehabilitated over 14 roads in Okpoko.

“Okpoko was once a den of criminals but now everybody is sleeping with their two eyes closed. Personally, I will thank God and APGA family, the ruling party in Anambra State which gingered Soludo to work hard.”

He, however, noted that Okpoko lacks adequate classroom facilities to accommodate all the school age children in the community. “The population of school age children is far larger than the number of primary and secondary schools available, Okpoko needs at least three public primary and secondary schools to accommodate all of them,” he said, adding: “There are still some roads in Okpoko that need urgent attention. There is also a need for government to empower the people of Okpoko because there are so many vulnerable ones dwelling there”, Odidika noted.

Chief Bucknor Agu, Assistant Secretary of Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association who spoke on behalf of the President of the market union, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu, said unlike before, most of the roads in Okpoko have become accessible.

According to Agu: “We, the Ogbaru Main Market traders, located in Okpoko, gained a lot from Soludo’s administration more than any other market in the state. We thank Soludo for accelerating developments in Okpoko since he assumed office.

“All the containers bringing our goods into the market arrive with ease as a result of the good network of roads provided in all parts of Okpoko by Governor Soludo, and we thank him for achieving such a feat, which was why the entire traders in the market gave him 99 per cent of votes during the November, 2025 governorship election in the state in appreciation of his quality leadership.”

Also speaking, a political stakeholder in Okpoko, Hon. Zeribe Ezeanuna appreciated Governor Soludo for establishing a modern general hospital in the community and urged him to do a lot more.

According to Ezeanuna: “I was born and bred in Okpoko until I grew up, travelled to London for my educational pursuit and came back about 22 years ago.

“Soludo has done a whole lot in Okpoko from day one when he was sworn in as governor in 2022 but like Oliver Twist, I want him to establish a School of Nursing and a University Campus here to improve our health care facilities and educational standards.”

The President-General of Okpoko Town Union, Sir Charles Ezeokafor also praised Soludo for turning Okpoko into a new haven and urged him to urgently tackle the menace of flooding by clearing all the blocked drainages built years by by Sacamori, a construction firm.

Ezeokafor complained bitterly that the menace of floods coming down from nearby Awada Layout and Onitsha Army Barracks whenever it rains, has become so worrisome that in recent times a Lexus Jeep was swept away by flood during a downpour, and two occupants of the vehicle drowned inside the vehicle and lost their lives instantly before they could be rescued by sympathisers.

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