By JP Udoba
The opening of a new southern frontier for Socio-economic development, with the construction of redesigned Anambra-Kogi Highway; will open up many opportunities especially for southern traders to bring their goods and services closer to the northern consumers, who hitherto travel long distance all the way from northern towns to the southern towns of Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, etc to purchase goods and transport same back to their northern destinations via Enugu-Benue or Edo-Kogi highways; which cost them so much money, labour, time and sometimes lost of goods and the security risks associated with armed robbers, Fulani herdsmen, bandits, gunmen and kidnappers.
The Agricultural opportunities that will be unveiled to Ndi-Anam and other easterners when the construction of Anambra-Kogi Highway is finished are numerous, because Anam, predominantly agriculturally based and a frontier town of Anambra shares border with Onitsha and Asaba largest commercial center of the Eastern region: proximity to such bigger market is required to enhance the agricultural potentials of frontier towns of Anambra and Kogi states. I strongly believe that Anam is strategically positioned by providence on the coasts of the Niger & Omambala Rivers in such proximity to Onitsha and Asaba for a bigger purpose, which will become more apprehant when the construction of redesigned Anambra-Kogi highway is finished.
The lost of lives and goods while transporting passengers and goods on waterways, from frontier towns and villages of Anambra and Kogi to Onitsha or Asaba will be reduced to barest minimum. The Prof. Chinua Achebe int’l passenger and cargo airport-Umueri and Asaba int’l airport, will also ease the evacuation of passengers, agricultural produce and goods from this new southern frontier, to the outside world.
The tourism opportunities that will emerge after the construction of the redesigned Anambra-Kogi highway will be tremendous, as it will harmonize and establish existing link between several landmark towns in Kogi and Anambra states such as Idah, Anam, Aguleri, etc By connecting the two states, the highway will create a corridor for trade, investment, and economic development
Even though it may lead to the displacement of indigenous communities, loss of cultural heritage, and disruption of traditional ways of life such as the ancient traditions and relationships between Ndi-Anam and Igala communities, who have lived in harmony for centuries. But with effective community engagement and security measures such risk can be mitigated.
It will create employment opportunities, foster trade, promote cultural exchange, enhance road travel, reducing journey times and improving connectivity, improved quality of life, stimulate economic activity, and reduce poverty by opening up access to healthcare, education institutions, markets and industries.
The construction can foster regional understanding and cooperation, catalyze economic growth and development if our political leaders will collectively support the project above personal interests. They can borrow ideas from their counterparts from the northern region, who had been strategically moving key political institutions to Kogi state since 2015.
It is endeavor that will reshape the socio-economic landscape of the region, bridge the divide between the rural & urban communities of northern and southern region by cementing the position of the redesigned Anambra-Kogi highway as a southern frontier & gateway for socio-economic development.
