Anambra Seeks ₦70bn Federal Intervention Over Insecurity, Erosion

The Anambra State Government has requested ₦70 billion from the Federal Government’s Stabilisation Fund to tackle insecurity, erosion and other infrastructure challenges affecting economic activities and public services across the state.

The request was presented to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Abuja by the Secretary to the State Government, Chiamaka Nnake, during a technical session of the commission’s Indices and Disbursement Committee.

Nnake said the proposed funding would complement existing government investments, protect livelihoods, sustain essential public services, improve investor confidence and promote a more resilient economy.

She identified insecurity, erosion, flooding, inflation and rising public service costs as major pressures on the state’s finances. She added that sit-at-home orders and restrictions on movement had disrupted commercial activities, reduced government revenue and weakened investor confidence in major economic centres, including Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi.

On security, Nnake said the state had enacted a Homeland Security Law, established a security outfit and strengthened cooperation among security agencies through a joint task force. She explained that the requested funds would support the procurement of operational vehicles, surveillance and communication equipment, personnel training and improved coordination.

The state also faces significant environmental challenges, with more than 1,000 erosion sites identified across 146 communities. Nnake estimated that approximately ₦170 billion would be required to address the identified critical erosion sites.

She said the government was already undertaking erosion control, flood management, road rehabilitation, land reclamation, waterway clearance and tree-planting projects. Restrictions on sand mining in vulnerable areas had also been introduced to limit further environmental damage.

Beyond security and environmental protection, the proposed intervention would support healthcare, education, agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.

Nnake disclosed that the state’s free antenatal care and delivery programme had supported more than 206,000 deliveries, including 642 Caesarean sections, without charges to beneficiaries. She also highlighted the recruitment of 8,415 teachers and the introduction of free education from nursery school to Senior Secondary School Three.

She noted that these programmes had increased demand for healthcare workers, medical equipment, medicines, classrooms and learning materials, requiring sustained funding to maintain service quality.

On economic diversification, Nnake said Anambra had distributed more than 2.3 million coconut and oil-palm seedlings but required additional investment in processing facilities, irrigation, storage, cold-chain infrastructure and market access to improve productivity and create jobs.

She also identified mineral resources, including kaolin, bentonite, lignite, silica sand, gypsum and laterite, as well as tourism attractions such as Agulu Lake, as opportunities for investment and revenue generation.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Prof. Olusegun Adekunle Wright, said the Stabilisation Fund was designed to provide financial assistance to states in deserving circumstances, subject to established guidelines, available resources and the necessary approvals.

Wright stressed that the technical assessment did not constitute approval of the ₦70 billion request. He said the commission would scrutinise the state’s financial records, proposed project costs, feasibility, implementation requirements and expected socio-economic benefits before making any recommendations.

He added that further verification and an on-the-spot assessment of the proposed projects would form part of the review process before the request could advance for further consideration.

The Commissioner representing Anambra State on the commission, Dr Enefe Ekene, welcomed the committee’s observations, saying the feedback would help the state strengthen its submission ahead of the proposed assessment visit.

The commission maintained that any recommendation would depend on the credibility of supporting financial documents, project viability, estimated costs and the expected benefits to residents.