Anambra approves Upper Iweka facelift, gives owners one month to clear abandoned vehicles
- Anambra's executive council has approved a remodelling of Upper Iweka in Onitsha, the state's main entry point.
- Owners of abandoned vehicles on roads statewide get one month to remove them or lose them to government.
- A third batch of the One Youth, Two Skills programme is also approved, after more than 13,000 youths trained so far.
The Anambra State Government has approved a plan to give Upper Iweka in Onitsha a new look, saying the busy junction that welcomes travellers into the state will be redesigned for better use of space and public areas.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, announced the decision after the 17th meeting of the State Executive Council, held at the Light House in Awka. He briefed reporters on Tuesday.
Upper Iweka is one of the first places many visitors see when they enter Anambra from the Onitsha end, and it is known for heavy traffic and crowded parks. According to Mefor, the remodelling will cover parks and other public spaces and is part of the Soludo administration's push for what it calls a liveable and prosperous homeland.
The government has not released the cost of the work or a start date. Mefor said a detailed master plan and design for the project will be made public soon.
Abandoned vehicles get one month
The council also ordered the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) to give owners of abandoned vehicles across the state one month's notice to move them.
Vehicles still on the road after that window, the government said, will be seized, taken away and scrapped. Officials say the aim is to clear hazards, free up traffic and make roads safer and tidier.
For residents, that means any car, bus or truck left to rust by the roadside should be moved quickly. The government advised owners to remove such vehicles immediately to avoid losing them.
Youth skills programme returns
The council also approved the start of selection, placement and training for the third batch of the One Youth, Two Skills entrepreneurship programme, often shortened to 1Youth 2Skills.
Mefor said the Ministry of Youth Development will later announce who is eligible and how to apply. He said two batches have already been completed, with more than 13,000 young people trained in over 60 skill areas.
According to the commissioner, more than 5,000 of those trained have become millionaires and are now teaching and supporting other young people under the programme's pay-it-forward model.
What happens next: the Upper Iweka master plan is expected to be unveiled soon, ARTMA's one-month notice will begin, and the youth ministry will publish application details for the new batch.
