Soludo Unveils Plan for New Industrial City, Aerotropolis in Anambra

By Our Reporter

Anambra State is set to embark on an ambitious industrial transformation that will bring factories, infrastructure, aviation and investment opportunities into a purpose-built economic hub, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has announced.

The governor disclosed plans for the development of a new industrial city complemented by an aerotropolis—an urban development model built around an airport and designed to concentrate industrial, commercial and logistics activities in a properly planned environment.

Soludo made the announcement on August 21 during the inauguration of Pattonik Villa Hotel and Suites in Abagana, Njikoka Local Government Area, where he outlined the administration’s vision of transforming Anambra into a more organised and investment-driven economy.

According to the governor, the proposed development is intended to address the unplanned pattern of industrial expansion in which factories, residential buildings, churches, fuel stations, markets and other activities are often located side by side without adequate spatial planning.

He said the new model would create a more structured environment where industrial and commercial activities can thrive alongside the infrastructure required to support them.

A major component of the plan is the Anambra Mixed Industrial City (AMIC), which the governor said covers approximately 5,000 to 6,000 hectares.

Soludo noted that the industrial city is already attracting significant interest, with increasing numbers of people visiting the area to explore investment opportunities.

The governor also disclosed that major work on the airport component of the development is expected to commence from September, with efforts already underway to prepare the site and improve access infrastructure.

“Many people are visiting the Anambra Mixed Industrial City. It is about 5,000 to 6,000 hectares,” Soludo said.

He explained that preparatory work, including land clearance and road construction, is already ongoing, while a dedicated power substation has also been established to provide direct electricity infrastructure for the industrial development.

The planned airport and runway, he said, will further strengthen the industrial city by improving connectivity and supporting the movement of people, goods and investment.

The combination of the industrial city and aerotropolis is expected to create a more integrated economic ecosystem, positioning manufacturing, logistics, aviation and other commercial activities within a coordinated development framework.

Rather than allowing industrialisation to evolve in a scattered manner, the governor said the state is pursuing deliberate planning that will provide investors with the infrastructure and environment needed to establish and expand businesses.

Soludo used the occasion to renew his appeal to Ndi Anambra, particularly those living outside the state, to return home and invest in the emerging opportunities.

He stressed that the state has significant investment potential and urged citizens to take advantage of the infrastructure and economic opportunities being developed by the government.

“It is time to make Anambra greater,” the governor declared.

The industrial city project forms part of the state government’s broader economic development agenda, which seeks to strengthen manufacturing, attract private-sector investment, improve infrastructure and create employment opportunities.

With the proposed aerotropolis, improved road networks and dedicated power infrastructure, the administration expects the development to provide a more conducive environment for industries while supporting the wider growth of Anambra’s economy.

The governor’s announcement also signals a shift toward more deliberate spatial planning, with industrial, residential and commercial activities expected to be better separated and supported by appropriate infrastructure.

For investors, the development could create opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, hospitality, real estate, energy, transportation and related services.

As the state moves toward the next phase of development, Soludo urged Ndi Anambra and prospective investors to look beyond the state’s traditional commercial centres and consider the emerging industrial corridor as a major platform for business expansion.

The governor’s message was unequivocal: Anambra wants its industrial future to be planned, connected and investment-ready—and the state is calling on its people to be part of that transformation.