The Anambra State Government has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling against the creation of autonomous communities in the state.
The state Government has urged those seeking the creation of additional autonomous communities to abandon the agitation, citing a Supreme Court ruling and warning that further fragmentation of existing communities could fuel disputes and undermine social cohesion.
The government said community leaders and groups should respect the court’s decision and focus on unity and development within existing community structures rather than pursue demands that could deepen divisions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, said the State Executive Council welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, noting that the creation of additional autonomous communities could fragment larger communities and trigger confusion and conflict.
“The council advised those pushing for autonomous communities to perish the idea in line with the Supreme Court judgment and channel their energies to uniting and developing their communities as presently constituted,” Mefor said.
The council also dismissed reports that the state government planned to reclaim schools previously returned to missions, reaffirming that there was no such plan.
However, it expressed concern over the poor standards in some mission-returned primary schools and resolved to establish minimum operating requirements for public and private primary schools. It warned that schools that failed to meet the prescribed standards would be shut down.
Mefor said the state had recruited 8,115 teachers for public primary and secondary schools, deploying 3,500 of them to mission-returned schools while continuing to pay their salaries and other entitlements.
He added that several primary schools were undergoing renovation under a counterpart-funding arrangement between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government.
The council also reviewed the Onitsha Main Market regeneration project and expressed confidence that it would meet the December deadline.
The project, being implemented by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, aims to restore the market’s master plan and improve its image and reputation.
Onitsha Main Market is a major commercial hub in southeastern Nigeria, attracting traders and customers from across the country and beyond. The regeneration project is expected to improve the organisation and operations of the market.
The council further received an update on preparations for the state’s Onwa Dezemba programme, which will feature Christmas carols, musical performances, decorations at strategic locations and cultural activities to welcome residents and visitors during the festive season.
The resolutions were reached at the 16th meeting of the second-term Anambra State Executive Council, held at the Light House in Awka, where members also considered other matters, including project awards.
