By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The outgoing Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, has said that the state would in March begin to earn 13 percent derivation in line with its conferred status as an oil producing state.

He described it as one of the battles he fought and won within his eight-year leadership of the state.

Obiano stated this at the weekend during a media chat in his country home, Aguleri, in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, after a tour of the Awka International Convention Centre and the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport in Umueri built in the second tenure of his administration.

The Governor described it as one of the things he will bequeath to his successor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, as well as rice production in large quantities, noting that he did not borrow to build all the signature projects he will bequeath the state.

According to him, he was notified of this status by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Pricing and Regulatory Agency, who had confirmed lifting of crude oil in commercial quantity from the state.

He added: “Anambra had 15 oil wells with Eniye 10940 oil field operated by SEEPCO fully operational and wholly owned by the state.

“The rice production of the state had hit 530,000 metric tonnes yearly from the 85,000 metric tonnes capacity in 2014.

“The revolution my administration brought into the agricultural sector has made the state become not only self-sufficient in production but a net exporter of the commodity. Demand for rice in the state was just 330,000 metric tonnes of the total output. A lot of businesses had been invested in the sector and that many family economies had been transformed.”

Responding to questions on whether he would be running for a political office after vacating the governorship of the state on March 17, Obiano said he would rather want to rest after eight years of excruciating times of administering the state.

“I’m going to rest after my tenure before thinking of anything to do. I do not need to be told that I did well for Anambra people, because I know I did well too. Sometimes I’m impolite about this, because I know that I spent many sleepless nights to ensure that I did the many projects I did for Anambra people.

“My wife is the one who will be going for Senate. She wants to run for Senate to represent Anambra North people. She is from Oyi Local Government Area, which is in Anambra North,” he added.

The governor disclosed that an international flight from the fleets of Ethiopian Airlines would begin operations at the Anambra international cargo and passenger airport to confirm its international status in two weeks’ time.

While stressing that the operation of international flight in the airport will boost agriculture, noting that most agricultural produce will be easily exported through the Anambra international cargo and passenger airport.

Obiano added: “If you know me, you will accept that I’m a man associated with class, and you can see class in all the projects I did for Anambra people.

“The airport you see there is about the best in sub-Saharan Africa, with some of the best facilities anywhere in the world.

“In terms of safety, it is the best, and has landing facilities that you can hardly find in any airport in Nigeria.

“I did not borrow from anywhere to build all the signature projects I will bequeath the state.”

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