By Charles Igwe
The Anambra State Government has taken a significant step toward enhancing transportation and boosting the state’s economy by commissioning the development of a masterplan for new rail lines. Okey Ezeobi, the General Manager of the Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement, announced this development in Awka.
Governor Charles Soludo’s administration has awarded the contract to CPCS Transcom Limited, a Canadian-based infrastructure advisory organization, to prepare and design the rail lines masterplan for the state. These rail lines are expected to connect various key locations in Anambra State, starting from Onitsha, the state’s commercial hub, to Ihiala, targeting the Oseokwa Port via Nnewi, Igbo-Ukwu, Ekwulobia, Oko, and Umunze, a border town neighboring Abia and Imo states. Additionally, rail lines will run to Awka and Anambra North, extending toward the state’s boundary with Kogi.
The primary objective of this rail project is to facilitate transportation and stimulate economic growth in the state. It is anticipated that this infrastructure will play a crucial role in moving goods efficiently from the Oseokwa Port, resulting in a boost to the state’s economy. The government is actively engaging the Federal Government to establish ports in Onitsha and Oseokwa, with the rail lines serving as a critical component of this plan.
On the topic of public procurement, Okey Ezeobi emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the process. While compliance with due process in public procurement is reported to be 100% at the state level, the situation is less satisfactory at the local government level. To address this, the Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement plans to conduct a six-day capacity-building program for transition committee chairpersons in the state’s 21 local government councils and their procurement officers. This initiative aims to promote transparency and ensure that public funds are managed appropriately to benefit the residents of Anambra State.
