Anambra now one of Nigeria’s safest states, says Soludo

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared that the state is now one of the safest in Nigeria, attributing the improvement to sustained collaboration between security agencies and local vigilante groups.

Soludo spoke with State House correspondents on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

He described the President’s message on tackling insecurity at the just-concluded National Economic Council (NEC) conference as emphatic and reassuring.

“The President’s message was emphatic and we’re quite excited to also listen to the President and his determination to stamp out insecurity nationwide,” Soludo said.

He described the protection of lives and property as the primary duty of all levels of government, stressing that tackling insecurity requires systemic collaboration between the Federal Government, states, local councils, and communities.

Soludo commended the military, police, Department of State Services, Civil Defence, and other paramilitary agencies for their contributions. He also praised Anambra’s internal security architecture, including the state vigilante group, anti-cult units, and anti-touting squads, which he said are working effectively to curb criminality.

The governor disclosed that 62 criminal camps have been dismantled in the state since he assumed office.

“And we’re not resting, not one second,” he said.

He noted that improved security was evident during the 2025 Yuletide, when residents and visitors moved freely across the state, boosting social and economic activities.

Soludo also condemned the sit-at-home order enforced every Monday, which he said had held the South-East hostage for more than five years.

He described the practice as destructive and debilitating to education, commerce, and investment, noting that each lost Monday translated to about 20 per cent of the work week for many businesses and informal workers.

He added that the disruption weakened school hours and harmed long-term human capital development, while the shutdown of major markets—including the Onitsha market—dealt a heavy blow to the regional economy.

Soludo said traders have since returned to the market in large numbers, celebrating its reopening and renewed confidence.

He pledged to regenerate the market and restore its status as a premier commercial hub in West Africa.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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