Anambra State Government on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 inaugurated its Smart City Programme with the unveiling of Street and House Numbering Project in Awka, the state capital.
Dr Victor Oye, National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who unveiled the project, said the initiative was another testimony of Gov. Willie Obiano’s determination to give the best to the state.
Oye, who eulogised Obiano on his seventh year in office, said the governor had performed excellently in every facet of governance .
According to him, the Street and House Numbering Project would boost security.
He said that good and clear directions were the hallmark of modern day cities, adding that Anambra could not afford to lag behind.
Mr Emeka Okwosa, Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, said the target was to upload every street and house within the territory to the Goggle map.
Okwosa said the project would also provide informed guide to visitors and make response to emergency and security situations more effective.
“We are calling on every resident of Anambra to key into this project.
“We want to have every house and street on Google map within the shortest possible time, and we want to have Uber and Taxify services in Awka.
“Endeavour to pay your levy when the agency in charge comes to you; together we will make Awka one of the best cities in the country,” he said.
Chief Jude Emecheta, Managing Director of Anambra Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA), the agency in charge of the numbering, said the project would move to other cities of the state later.
Emecheta said that the quality of materials for the numbering and signposts were durable, adding that the agency would need the cooperation of the residents to implement the programme.
”Now that we have an airport coming up, when somebody lands in the state, he does not need to start asking for locations; all he needs to do is to key in the place on Google and a taxi will take you there.
“We don’t want people to be prone to insecurity by asking people of streets and houses; the aim is to make Awka smart and easily traversable,” he said.
The inauguration of the project coincided with the seventh year anniversary of the administration of Obiano who was sworn in on March 17, 2014.
By Chimezie Anaso
