The Anambra State Government has intensified efforts to attract investors and strategic partners into electricity generation, agricultural development and industrial production as part of its broader strategy to stimulate economic growth and create employment opportunities.
The State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Okwu Mefor, disclosed this while speaking on the investment and development policies of the Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo-led administration.
Mefor explained that the government was pursuing a deliberate approach to agriculture, supporting local businesses, improving rural infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for domestic and foreign investors.
The commissioner described agriculture as one of the major priorities of the Soludo administration, noting that the government was implementing targeted initiatives to strengthen agricultural production and restore valuable economic crops that have become less common over the years.
According to him, the state government has, over the past two to three years, procured and distributed seedlings of selected economic trees, including coconut palms and bitter kola, to encourage cultivation and prevent the disappearance of these crops.
He said the initiative was designed to provide long term economic benefits to farmers, particularly those who would eventually harvest and sell the produce.
Mefor also identified agriculture as an integral component of the state’s One Youth, Two Skills programme, which seeks to equip young people with practical skills and the resources required to establish sustainable livelihoods.
He explained that young people were being encouraged to venture into different agricultural activities, including crop production and animal husbandry.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive training in their chosen fields and are provided with seed funding to put their acquired skills into practice.
The commissioner added that the government was promoting agricultural cooperatives to help farmers access seedlings, fertilisers, markets and potential buyers for their produce.
He disclosed that the state was also working on legislation to formalise and strengthen the operations of cooperative societies.
Mefor identified poor road infrastructure and limited access to markets as some of the challenges confronting farmers.
He said the state government was addressing the problem through the construction of rural access roads, particularly in communities regarded as major food producing areas.
According to him, locations such as Anyaemelum and Nzam are benefiting from efforts to improve road connectivity and enable farmers to transport their produce to urban markets more easily.
He explained that better road access would help farmers increase their earnings, improve food distribution and potentially reduce food prices by strengthening the supply chain.
Addressing concerns about the state of rice production in Anambra, the commissioner maintained that the state remained active in the sector, with rice producers showcasing their products at an exhibition organised by the Ministry of Commerce.
He said the exhibition demonstrated the presence of rice production across different parts of the state and highlighted growing interest from private investors.
Mefor cited the involvement of the Coscharis Group in rice production as an example of private sector participation in the agricultural economy.
However, he acknowledged that rice processing remained an area requiring further development.
According to him, expanding processing capacity would enable producers to serve the local market more effectively while creating opportunities to export surplus products beyond Nigeria.
He stressed that increasing production alone would not deliver the full economic benefits of agriculture without adequate processing and value addition.
The commissioner said the Soludo administration was working to make Anambra more attractive to investors by improving security, facilitating access to land and pursuing more reliable and affordable electricity supply.
He also highlighted the role of the Anambra State Small Business Agency in supporting local entrepreneurs.
According to Mefor, eligible small and medium sized businesses may access funding of up to ₦10 million, subject to the agency’s requirements and the strength of their business plans.
He explained that the initiative was intended to support existing businesses with growth potential, helping small enterprises expand into medium-sized and larger businesses.
For large scale investors, Mefor pointed to the Anambra Mixed Use Industrial City, known as AMIC, which he said covers approximately 5,000 hectares.
He stated that the government was working to provide the industrial development with essential infrastructure, including electricity, access roads and security.
The commissioner also highlighted the reported approval of free trade zone status for the industrial city, describing it as an important step towards attracting manufacturing investments.
He said the arrangement was intended to facilitate the movement of raw materials into the zone and the distribution of manufactured products from it, subject to the applicable free trade zone regulations.
On electricity supply, Mefor said the state government recognised reliable and affordable power as essential to achieving its industrialisation objectives.
He explained that the government had established a regulatory framework through the Anambra Electricity Regulatory Act and put the Anambra Electricity Regulatory Board in place to oversee the state’s electricity market.
According to him, the administration was also exploring opportunities to increase electricity generation within the state rather than relying solely on power supplied through the national grid.
Mefor said the decentralisation of the electricity sector had created opportunities for state governments and private investors to participate in electricity generation and distribution within the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
He disclosed that Anambra was seeking partnerships with electricity companies and other investors to develop power-generation capacity and improve supply to businesses and residents.
The commissioner maintained that expanding electricity generation would be critical to supporting manufacturing, strengthening local industries and attracting new investments.
He added that the state was positioning itself to take advantage of its market potential by creating conditions that would encourage electricity companies and other private sector players to invest in the state.
Anambra’s development strategy, as outlined by the commissioner, places agriculture, infrastructure, small business financing, industrial investment and electricity supply at the centre of its economic agenda.
The success of these initiatives will depend on effective implementation, sustained investment, reliable infrastructure and measurable improvements in the operating environment for farmers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers.
If successfully implemented, the policies could strengthen local production, create employment opportunities, improve market access for farmers and support the state’s broader industrialisation ambitions.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
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