Anambra to spend N2.5bn to transform Agulu Lake to leisure, entertainment centre

The Anambra State Government on Tuesday said it would spend N2.5 billion to transform Agulu Lake into a leisure and entertainment centre.

Mr Don Onyenji, the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, disclosed this during the on-going 2022 Revised Budget defence before the state House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Awka.

Onyenji said the Agulu Lake project would be harnessed to international standards to attract local and international tourists to further boost tourism in the state.

He said: “The present administration is committed to harnessing the rich tourism and cultural heritage of the state for both local and international tourists.

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“This is why Agulu Lake will be transformed into Anambra State Leisure and Entertainment Centre with boat ride, golf course, children’s park, entertainment hub and other fun and relaxation sites.

“I assure you that when this project is completed it will surpass what you have in Disney World and it will be a major source of income to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue,” he said.

The Commissioner said that the Ministry was currently receiving architectural designs and concepts to drive the Agulu Lake project.

Onyenji said that the ministry was also collating heritage sites in different communities in the state for development.

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He urged the legislature to approve the ministry’s budget to help the ministry achieve its plans for the state’s tourism and entertainment sector.

Reacting, Mr Smart Okafor, an Assemblyman representing Nnewi North Constituency, noted that there was no breakdown on how the N2.5 billion would be spent to carry out the Agulu Lake project.

“Your Ministry will have to go back and specify what the budget allocation will be spent on to achieve a transparent and realistic budget.

“The legislature wants the ministry to succeed and achieve this project because Anambra is yet to have relaxation and fun centres to drive tourism,” he said.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Ministry was allocated N2.7 billion in the 2022 revised budget proposal. (NAN)