The Anambra State Government has disclosed plans to demolish an estimated 5,075 buildings along the Second Niger Bridge corridor to make way for a six-lane road at Nkwele-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area.
The state Commissioner for Works, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, disclosed this at the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Anambra State chapter, held in Awka.
Speaking on the theme, “From Vision to Legacy: Planning, Innovation and Inclusive Development for a Livable Environment,” Ezeobi said poor urban planning had contributed to the challenges confronting communities as the state’s population grows.
He lamented that residents were paying a high price for the absence of proper master planning, stressing that effective planning was essential for sustainable development.
“If there were a proper master plan, the people would not have to be paying such big price; but today, our people are paying the price because, there was no planning,” he said.
Anambra Plans Three Airports By 2070
Ezeobi said the state was planning for future population growth and infrastructure needs, including the development of additional airports.
He disclosed that the government was developing a second airport and securing land for a proposed third airport as part of its long-term vision for 2070.
“By 2070, Anambra shall have gotten three airports. We are building second airport, and we are securing land for third airport as a vision of where Anambra will be by 2070,” he said.
The commissioner urged architects to prioritise innovation and forward-looking planning, warning that population growth and environmental challenges required more effective development strategies.
He also claimed that erosion had taken away 30 per cent of Anambra’s land, urging architects to develop solutions that address the state’s environmental challenges.
Anambra Plans 1,200 Social Housing Units In Ebenebe
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Chiedozie Henry Arize, disclosed that the government was pursuing a social housing programme for public servants, particularly secondary school teachers and civil servants.
Arize said the first phase of the project, planned for Ebenebe near Awka, would comprise 1,200 housing units, with the second and third phases expected to follow.
He explained that the buildings would have three upper floors to accommodate more homes because of the state’s limited land area.
According to the commissioner, the Federal Mortgage Bank is funding the project, while Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has provided land for the development.
“The Federal Mortgage Bank is funding the project, so, money won’t be any problem; and the governor has made land available,” he said.
Arize added that the homes would be subsidised to make them affordable for eligible public servants.
He said the government had concluded plans to ensure the scheme benefited public servants rather than businessmen.
Architects Urged To Embrace Innovation, Better Planning
The National President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Sani Saulawa, congratulated the Anambra chapter, noting that the state had produced architects whose contributions had earned national recognition.
However, he identified poor understanding between architects and the general public as a major challenge facing the profession.
Saulawa said the institute was working to educate Nigerians about architects’ roles in designing buildings and shaping the built environment.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NIA Anambra State chapter, Arc. Ikenna Onuorah, said the AGM theme challenged professionals to consider the quality of communities and public spaces they would leave for future generations.
Onuorah urged governments to establish transparent planning frameworks, invest in infrastructure, protect public land and the environment, and ensure development decisions were participatory.
He also called on architects to combine creativity with evidence, climate awareness, affordability and cultural understanding.
The event featured awards to outstanding members of the institute, including Saulawa, the institute’s General Secretary, Arc. Ninah Briggs, Ezeobi, Arize and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Arc. Obi Okonkwo.
