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Changing Gears 2.0: Soludo’s Acceleration Budget For Anambra

By Christian ABURIME In an era where Nigerian states often retreat behind the shield of “economic headwinds,” Anambra State is charting a remarkably different course.
This is evident in Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s presentation of the N607 billion 2025 budget. Aptly tagged “Changing Gears 2.0”, the budget tells a compelling story of fiscal ingenuity, one where ambitious development meets pragmatic restraint.
The numbers are striking, not for their size, but for their context. At $357 million, this budget is actually smaller in real terms than what the state spent in 2008 ($517 million) or 2013 ($1.1 billion). Yet, paradoxically, it promises to deliver even more.
This is not just political rhetoric; it is backed by a clear track record of execution. Consider the mathematics of adversity: cement prices have more than tripled to N10,000 per bag, fuel costs have skyrocketed tenfold to over N1,000 per litre, and inflation continues its relentless march.
Lesser administrations might have used these as ready-made excuses. Instead, Governor Soludo’s team has transformed these constraints into a catalyst for innovation. Instructively, the budget’s architecture reveals a government that understands the art of prioritisation.
A 77:23 ratio of capital to recurrent expenditure is beyond just a number; it is a significant shift in state-level governance.
Most Nigerian states struggle to keep their recurrent expenditure below 70%.
By driving it down to 23%, Anambra State under the leadership of Governor Soludo is effectively saying: we will run a lean government to build a rich state.
But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this budget is its candid honesty about weaknesses.
The state’s IGR currently stands at N2.5 billion monthly, against a potential of N10-15 billion.
This admission is not just all about transparency; it is also a challenge to the status quo. It suggests a government willing to confront its shortcomings rather than hide them. What’s more, the execution strategy reads like a business plan rather than a typical government document.
From transforming 22 schools into “smart schools” to distributing millions of economic seedlings and trees, from building the “largest shopping mall in Africa” to creating three new cities, the ambition is breathtaking.
Yet it is tempered with fiscal responsibility: the administration won’t borrow unless the loans are concessionary and tied to self-liquidating projects.
What is particularly noteworthy is the state’s approach to human capital development.
The extension of free education through SS3, recruitment of 8,115 teachers, and the innovative “One Youth, Two Skills” programme suggests a government thinking beyond the next election.
This is governance with a generational perspective. However, the true genius of this budget lies not in what it promises to spend, but in how it plans to achieve more with less.
The emphasis on strategic partnerships, community involvement, and private sector engagement suggests a recognition that the government alone cannot drive development. Critics might argue that the budget’s ambitions exceed its means.
But therein lies its brilliance: by setting ambitious targets while maintaining fiscal discipline, it creates a productive tension between aspiration and reality.
This tension, if properly managed, could be the catalyst for innovation in governance.
As Nigeria contends with the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal and currency unification, Anambra’s approach offers a template for other states.
“One Youth, Two Skills” programme suggests a government thinking beyond the next election.
It demonstrates that the answer to economic challenges is not always more money; sometimes, it is smarter money. Now, the success of this budget will ultimately depend on execution.
But by maintaining a capital-heavy investment profile while keeping recurrent costs low, prioritising revenue generation while resisting reckless borrowing, and balancing ambitious development with fiscal restraint, Governor Soludo is showing that it is possible to dream big while spending smart.
In the end, this “Changing Gears 2.0” budget is more than another routine financial document replete with platitudes.
It is a masterclass in governance under constraint, audaciously extending the mantra of Doing More with Less and representing another major step towards realising Governor Soludo’s vision of transforming Anambra into a smart, livable and prosperous mega city.
News
Anambra Govt Debunks Video of Soludo’s Reelection Visit to Native Doctor

The Anambra State Government has debunked the misinformation, malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments in the video of the recently arrested Native doctor in the state.
In a press statement signed by Christian Aburime, the state Press Secretary to the Governor on June 4, 2025, the State Government debunked the allegations that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, consulted a native doctor regarding his reelection prospects, stressing that the information is totally false.
The statement reads: The attention of Anambra State Government has been drawn to a malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments making spurious claims that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, consulted a native doctor regarding his reelection prospects.
The State Government hereby debunks the allegations as totally false. For the interest of the general public, the video clip being maliciously circulated and misrepresented, as evidence of native doctor consultation, was taken during a recent official government meeting with Anambra-based content creators.
The session, facilitated by the Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, was organised to strengthen the partnership between the State Government and the creative industry as part of Governor Soludo’s commitment in encouraging and supporting Anambra’s creative economy.
During the interactive session, content creators were encouraged to showcase their talents, ask questions, and share their concerns about the creative industry in the state.
As part of the presentations, one of the content creators performed a native doctor skit, a common comic genre in Nigerian entertainment, to demonstrate their creative abilities to the Governor and other officials present.
This was purely an entertainment performance by a content creator, not a consultation session. The State Government thus found it deeply disappointing that critics and political opponents would stoop so low as to deliberately fabricate malicious narratives from an innocent entertainment performance and spread misinformation to mislead the public.
Rather than engage in frivolous consultations, Governor Soludo has consistently demonstrated his commitment to developing Anambra’s creative economy through investment plans as part of the state’s economic diversification strategy.
The recently commissioned SOLUTION FUN CITY project is part of such investment plans.
The State Government also clarified that Governor Soludo does not need consultations with any native doctor to win reelection, as he relies solely on the support of Ndi Anambra based on his impressive performance and focus on delivering the SOLUTION AGENDA by transforming Anambra State into a livable and prosperous homeland.
Therefore, the Anambra State Government calls on Ndi Anambra, media channels and social media users to disregard the misinformation concerning the circulated video clip.
The public is also urged to always verify information before sharing or amplifying content and reject malicious stories sponsored to mislead the public.
As always, Governor Soludo remains committed to the development of Anambra State and will not be deterred by the antics of desperate political opponents who have chosen the path of falsehood over constructive engagement.
News
Tinubu hosts Gov Adeleke, Davido at Lagos residence (Photos)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to his Lagos residence for a private meeting on Monday.

Accompanying the governor was his elder brother and renowned businessman, Chief Adedeji Adeleke, along with his son, internationally acclaimed Afrobeats artiste David Adeleke, widely known by his stage name, Davido.
The visit was announced in a post by President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, who shared details on X on Tuesday.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu receives in audience H.E. Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, along with Chief Adedeji Adeleke and his son, Afrobeats icon Davido, at his Lagos residence,” Olusegun wrote.
As of the time of filing this report, the reason for the courtesy call had not been made public, and no official statement has been issued either by the Presidency or the Adeleke family.

Images from the visit have surfaced on social media, capturing moments from the closed-door meeting between the President and the Adeleke family members.

News
Nigeria should fence its borders for security, says defence chief
Nigeria shares borders with four countries: Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad. All of these neighbouring countries are currently dealing with different levels of insecurity and conflict.

Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, has called for the country to build fences along its borders to improve national security.
Speaking at a security conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Musa stressed the need for better control of Nigeria’s borders.
He pointed out that other countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have had to fence their borders with Afghanistan and Iraq because of security problems.
Musa said Nigeria needs to fully secure and control its borders, explaining that the country’s wealth and natural resources are attracting insurgents and criminals.
“It is Nigeria that everybody is interested in. That is why we need to secure fully and take control of our borders. It is critical for our survival and sovereignty.”
Nigeria shares borders with four countries: Niger Republic, Cameroon, Benin, and Chad. All of these neighbouring countries are currently dealing with different levels of insecurity and conflict.
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