Awka Prepares for Historic Town Hall as President Tinubu Visits Anambra Amid Infrastructural Renaissance

 

Excitement is sweeping across Anambra State as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares for a landmark Town Hall Meeting with key stakeholders this Thursday. The meeting, part of the President’s official working visit to the State, will be held at the recently refurbished Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in the heart of Awka.

Stakeholders from across the length and breadth of the State are expected to converge at the high-level engagement. These include traditional rulers, business leaders, market union heads, and community representatives drawn from all 179 communities within Anambra. The gathering signals a strategic moment of dialogue between the Federal Government and the grassroots leadership of one of Nigeria’s most dynamic southeastern states.

Final preparations are in full swing, with the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) spearheading a flurry of last-minute enhancements across key parts of the capital. Leading the charge is ACTDA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ossy Onuko, who has personally overseen site inspections at major points, including the Three Arms Zone Boulevard—one of the flagship projects linking the city’s core to the new Government House and the event venue.

“All hands are on deck,” Onuko affirmed during an on-site briefing. “We are here dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s to ensure a clean, smooth, and hitch-free reception for President Tinubu. Awka is ready.”

Strategic traffic management plans have been drawn up to ensure seamless movement during the event. Onuko emphasized that due to heightened security protocols, movement along the newly completed boulevard would be restricted during the Town Hall Meeting. To counter potential gridlock and ease congestion, several nearby premises have been designated as official parking zones for attendees and guests.

Facilities such as the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) compound, Kenneth Dike Library, Teachers House, and the Anambra Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) complex have been earmarked as parking hubs. The measure aims to decongest the central city zone, while also allowing for enhanced security screening procedures.

The visit of the President is seen by many as a significant endorsement of the progress made under the administration of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, who has pushed an ambitious agenda to transform Awka into a truly functional capital city.

For years, the perception of Awka as a state capital was marred by infrastructural inadequacies and a lack of cohesive urban planning. Today, thanks to concerted efforts and targeted investments in public infrastructure, the capital city is shedding its old image.

“Before now, Awka lacked the core elements of a functional capital. But in the last two to three years, Governor Soludo has changed the narrative with the required infrastructure that now defines Awka as a true capital city,” Onuko noted with pride. “His vision has repositioned Awka, giving it the physical and administrative identity it deserves.”

From smart urban layouts to modern road networks and the emerging Three Arms Zone, the Soludo administration has prioritized projects that not only enhance mobility and aesthetics but also reflect the dignity and stature of a capital city.

Community leaders and residents alike have welcomed the developments, expressing a strong sense of ownership and commitment to maintaining public infrastructure for the long term. There is a growing consensus that sustainability must remain a core focus as the city transitions into a more modern administrative hub.

Thursday’s Town Hall Meeting is expected to go beyond ceremony. It provides a rare platform for local leaders to engage President Tinubu directly on a range of pressing developmental issues—from infrastructure and education to security and economic empowerment. For many community representatives, it’s an opportunity to present the needs and aspirations of their people to the very highest level of government.

The broader significance of the visit lies in its potential to deepen federal-state collaboration. Analysts believe that such engagements foster mutual understanding and ensure that national development initiatives are better aligned with regional priorities.

Already, the symbolism of hosting the event at the reconstructed Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square has not been lost on many. Named after Nigeria’s first civilian Vice President and an icon of democratic governance, the venue underscores the fusion of heritage, leadership, and forward-thinking urban development.

As the countdown continues, Awka is poised not only to host the President but to showcase itself as a growing capital city ready to step into a new era of prominence. From carefully coordinated logistics to an increasingly inspired citizenry, the stage is set for what could be a defining moment in Anambra’s political and developmental journey.