Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has said the state is now one of the safest in the country, attributing the progress to sustained cooperation among security agencies and local vigilante groups.
Soludo spoke to State House correspondents on Wednesday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He said President Tinubu’s remarks on addressing insecurity across the country at the recent National Economic Council (NEC) meeting were clear and encouraging.
“The President’s message was emphatic and we’re quite excited to also listen to the President and the determination, his determination to stamp out insecurity nationwide,” Soludo said.
The governor stressed that safeguarding lives and property remains the foremost responsibility of government at every level.
According to him, efforts to curb insecurity must involve coordinated action between the Federal Government, state authorities, local governments and communities.
Soludo commended the contributions of the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), Civil Defence and other paramilitary bodies in restoring order.
He also highlighted the effectiveness of Anambra’s internal security framework, including the state-backed vigilante outfit.
Other units such as anti-cultism and anti-touting squads, he said, have also played key roles in tackling criminal activities.
Soludo revealed that since taking office, his administration has dismantled 62 criminal camps across the state.
“And we’re not resting, not one second,” he said.
He noted that improved security was evident during the 2025 Yuletide season, when residents and visitors were able to travel and move about freely.
The improved atmosphere, he added, has stimulated both social and economic activities.
Soludo pointed to the prolonged sit-at-home order in the South-East, observed every Monday for more than five years, as a major setback for the region.
He described the practice as harmful to education, trade and investment.
According to him, the loss of every Monday amounts to roughly 20 per cent of the working week for businesses and informal sector operators.
He said the disruption has also reduced classroom time and negatively affected long-term human capital development.
The governor noted that the closure of major commercial centres, including the Onitsha market, had severely impacted the regional economy.
He said traders have now returned to the market in large numbers, expressing renewed optimism and confidence.
Soludo pledged to revitalise the Onitsha market and reposition it as a leading commercial hub in West Africa.
