Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has unveiled plans for a major urban renewal drive in Nnewi as part of efforts to revive the city’s economy and restore its status as a key industrial hub in the state.
Soludo made this known on Wednesday during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Nnewi, where he inspected several abandoned and underused public facilities. He said the tour was necessary to properly identify long-standing infrastructure problems affecting the city’s growth and business activities.
The governor explained that his administration is focusing on reclaiming neglected government assets and turning idle spaces into productive areas that can support trade, investment, and job creation.
One of the major stops was the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle shopping complex, a project that has remained unfinished for about 17 years. Soludo expressed disappointment over the delay, describing it as a waste of valuable public resources.
He said his government would no longer allow such projects to remain abandoned, stressing that plans are now in place to complete and put the facility to active use for the benefit of residents and traders.
Soludo also inspected the Post Office area and the High Court premises in Nnewi, noting that his vision is to redesign these older public sites into a modern urban layout that improves movement, service delivery, and commercial activity.
In addition, he visited locations marked for future housing projects, saying the aim is to use available land more effectively to support urban development.
According to him, the broader plan is to unlock the economic potential of Nnewi by converting unused spaces into functional public and commercial infrastructure.
“We are determined to bring back the lost value of Nnewi,” he said. “Our goal is to turn abandoned assets into useful facilities that will boost business activities and restore the city’s position as a leading industrial centre.”
The governor was accompanied by top government officials, including commissioners for Works, Housing, and Environment, as well as local government leaders from Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo.