INDEPENDENCE: SOLUDO RENAMES AIRPORT AFTER CHINUA ACHEBE
REPORTER: BEN ILECHUKWU
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has announced the renaming of the first Anambra international Cargo and Passenger Airport, Umueri after the late novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe.
Governor Soludo, who made the declaration at the 63rd Independence day celebration at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, emphasized the need to recognize and celebrate the efforts of Nigeria’s founding fathers and heroes whose effort would never be taken for granted.
According to Governor Soludo, his decision to name the first Airport in Anambra State after the state’s greatest literary gift to the world, Chinua Achebe, came after wide consultation with stakeholders.
While paying tribute to Nigerias fallen heroes for their patriotism, Governor Soludo noted that the efforts of Nigeria heroes past in ensuring Nigeria remained one indivisible entity would always be remembered.
This was even as he maintained that the celebration of the Independence anniversary called for deep reflection and to refine the gains towards the future.
The Governor also commended efforts of the federal and various state governments to immortalize Nigerian heroes (past and present) by naming streets, roads, stadia, airports, universities, libraries, and institutions after them.
He further reeled out his administration’s plans and efforts to cushion the consequential hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy and exchange rate adjustments on the citizens.
They included a non-taxable cash augmentation of N12,000 payment for 59,000 public servants and penshioners from (September to December 2023) in addition to 10% salary increase for civil servants since January 2023.
This is in addition to distribution of bags of rice to over 300,000 households.
Others included the ban in collection of taxes/levies from hawkers, barrow and truck pushers, vulcanizers, commercial motorcycle riders, and all businesses with capital less than 100,000, reduction by 20% levies paid by all transport vehicles and
free antenatal and delivery services for pregnant women in all government hospitals.
He also reiterated his administration’s programme of a free primary to JSS3 education — free of all fees, levies and financial contributions of any type — in all public schools and the recruitment of additional 3,000 teachers among others.
The event featured the inspection of Guard of Honour by the Governor and march past by various primary and secondary schools in the area
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
