Soludo Renames Anambra International Airport after Achebe

 Opinion 

Soludo Renames Anambra International Airport after Achebe

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Chidiebele Obika | I-Witness News

The Governor of Anambra state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo CFR., has renamed the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport after one of Africa's most celebrated literally icons, Late Professor Albert Chinualumogu Achebe popularly known as Chinua Achebe.

Professor Soludo made the pronouncement earlier today, October 1, 2023 during his remarks to mark the 63rd Independence Celebration of Nigeria which held at Dr Alex Ekwueme square in Awka.

Speaking, he noted that over the years, streets, important infrastructure and institutions had been named after notable individuals like Rt. Hon. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo, Alex Ekwueme, Dora Akunyili, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu among others. He observed that the people so far honoured were politicians and political office holders and declared that it was time to begin to celebrate our 'unsung heroes'.

Governor Soludo who quoted Wikipedia where it described Achebe as “a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic, regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel and ‘magnum opus’, Things Fall Apart (1958), occupies a pivotal place in African literature and remains the most widely studied, translated, and read African novel. 

Along with “Things Fall Apart”, his “No Longer at Ease” (1960) and “Arrow of God” (1964) complete the “African Trilogy”, and therefore announced that henceforth, the Anambra International Passenger and Cargo Airport would be known as Chinua Achebe International Passenger and Cargo Airport.

Furthermore, the Governor pointed out that his government had completed some projects and commenced others like the Solution fun city Awka, over 340 kilometres of roads, some bridges and fly overs, recruitment and deployment of 5000 teachers and the ongoing recruitment of 3000 teachers, ten percent increment of civil servants and non-taxable N12000 addition to salaries of over 59000 public servants in the state which began in September this year aimed at cautioning the effects of subsidy removal

" We have banned the collection of taxes/levies from hawkers, barrow and truck pushers, vulcanizers, okada riders, and all businesses with capital less than N100,000. We have also reduced by 20% levies paid by all transport vehicles. 

Pregnant women now receive free antenatal and delivery services in all government hospitals. We have also began the ambitious programme of a true free primary to JSS3 education--- free of all fees, levies and financial contributions of any type in all public schools", he said.