It was indeed a day of glory as Anambra State formally became an oil-producing state.

This followed the commissioning, today, of the oil production facilities of Orient Petroleum Resources Plc at Aguleri by President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was indeed a harvest of good news as Jonathan also commissioned two big projects in the state’s commercial nerve centre, Onitsha – SABMiller Brewery (believed to be the biggest in Africa) and Onitsha RiverPort Complex. Some other projects were equally commissioned by the President during the visit.

It was a day when “everyone who mattered in Anambra and beyond came to witness the historic take-off of industrialisation in Anambra,” as one observer put it.

An elated President Jonathan heaped praises on the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi, for his achievements.

Commenting on the events of the day, Senator Chris Ngige, a former Anambra governor said: “This is a mile stone in the annals of our dear Anambra State because at last our state has officially been confirmed as an oil producing state.”

He congratulated “Orient Petroleum and the entire people of Anambra State for this great achievement,” warning, however, that “the revenue accruing from oil should be put to use judiciously and provide social security for the people of Anambra State and cost communities.”

On his part, former Central Bank of Niger Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, another illustrious son of Anambra, said: “I call it wonderful. It is a great day for Anambra State and the beginning of a long journey towards transformation of our state. Oil can be a blessing and can also be a cause. But let it be only blessing to our dear state. Anambra should utilise such great achievement effectively such that in the next six to eight years it will not need a kobo to run the recurrent expenditure of the state.”

Until today, Nigeria had eight oil-producing states – Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers. Cross River was originally on the list but lost that status following the Supreme Court’s recent judgment that ceded all the 76 oil wells previously belonging to the state to Akwa Ibom.

Photo, courtesy of Uche Ezechukwu, Coordinator of League of Anambra Media Professionals (LAMP), shows Governor Obi speaking during the commissioning of Onitsha RiverPort Complex.

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