By Anselm C. Onuorah, Ph.D

Anambra State covers approximately 4,844 square kilometres of land, making it the second-smallest state in Nigeria after Lagos. This fact alone helps define its developmental scope and challenges, but the reality is more complex. While Lagos has responded to spatial pressure through initiatives such as land reclamation and the development of Eko Atlantic, Anambra faces a different challenge: land is gradually being lost. Across Aguata, Idemili, Nnewi, Orumba, and several other communities, gully erosion continues to affect significant portions of land each year. The state’s already limited landmass is further reduced by erosion driven by topography, rainfall intensity, inadequate drainage systems, and sand excavation. At the same time, Anambra’s population, economic aspirations, and cultural attachment to land continue to grow.

This article examines three interrelated issues: (1) the cultural value and ancestral significance of land among Ndị Anambra, (2) the physical constraint of a relatively small landmass compounded by erosion, and (3) the adequacy of emerging spatial policies under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo in responding to a projected population of about 29 million by 2065. The central argument is that an “alternative city space”—planned and conceptualised through vertical, specialised, and technology-driven development—could play an important role in Anambra’s long-term urban sustainability. While some may argue that such planning would have been more beneficial if initiated earlier, the need for forward-looking spatial planning remains significant today.

Land as Cultural Entitlement, Ancestral Linkage, and Scarcity

Among Ndị Anambra, land is not only an economic asset; it is also a symbol of identity, ancestry, and communal values. The Igbo word ala refers both to land and to the ethical order that guides community life. Burial rights, inheritance, political representation, and social standing are closely connected to ancestral ties to land. As a result, many families place considerable importance on retaining ownership of ancestral property.

However, this cultural attachment exists alongside increasing pressure on available land. Generational subdivision has reduced the size of many family holdings, while demand for land for housing, schools, hospitals, markets, roads, and other public infrastructure continues to increase. In addition, the cultural preference for retaining ancestral land can make public acquisition more complex and costly. This creates an ongoing challenge of balancing cultural values with development needs.

Current estimates place Anambra’s population between six and eight million people, making it one of the most densely populated states in Nigeria. Population projections indicate that the state’s population could rise substantially over the coming decades. Existing schools, hospitals, markets, courts, and transport infrastructure are already experiencing increasing demand in many areas. Meeting future infrastructure needs for a significantly larger population will require careful planning, yet available land remains limited and continues to be affected by erosion. These realities present significant planning constraints.

The comparison with Lagos is instructive. While both states contend with limited land and growing populations, Lagos has largely addressed land constraints through engineering solutions such as land reclamation and high-density urban development. Anambra’s geography, rainfall pattern, and geological conditions present different challenges, making similar approaches less practical on a large scale. Consequently, Anambra may need to focus more on expanding upward through vertical development, optimising existing urban spaces, and adopting innovative planning concepts that increase capacity without requiring proportionate horizontal expansion.

Awka 2.0 and Aeropolis

This appears to be a central element of Governor Soludo’s spatial strategy. Under the Awka 2.0 vision, the state capital is being reimagined as a smart, mixed-use city designed for higher-density development. The plan emphasises multi-storey residential and institutional buildings, underground utilities, integrated transport systems, and the clustering of government and private services. Rather than encouraging uncontrolled outward expansion into surrounding communities, the concept seeks to accommodate growth within a more efficiently planned urban footprint.

A second pillar of this approach is Aeropolis. The airport is envisioned not only as a transportation hub but also as the centre of an airport city, complemented by a Free Trade Zone (FTZ). This initiative seeks to build on Anambra’s long-standing commercial tradition by supporting air logistics, bonded warehousing, digital customs processes, and value-added manufacturing and processing. Such activities have the potential to generate significant economic output while making efficient use of available land.

The need for timely action becomes increasingly evident from a planning perspective. Urban planning literature suggests that once an area develops without long-term planning, adapting it later for higher-density development may become more difficult, costly, and technically challenging. If areas identified for Aeropolis, vertical commercial districts, and institutional corridors are not appropriately planned and protected, they could gradually be developed for other uses over time. This may reduce future planning options as population and development continue to increase.

Many existing public facilities were developed to meet the needs and planning assumptions of their time and may no longer adequately reflect current demographic realities. Schools, hospitals, markets, and other public infrastructure in several communities now serve populations significantly larger than originally anticipated. In some locations, markets have expanded beyond their original boundaries, extending into adjoining roads and surrounding areas because of increasing commercial activity and limited available space. The state therefore faces the ongoing challenge of balancing cultural expectations surrounding land ownership with the practical need for additional infrastructure.

It is within this context that Governor Soludo’s planning vision can be viewed. The designation of projects such as Aeropolis, Awka 2.0, and other long-term development initiatives reflects an effort to promote coordinated urban planning. Securing land for these projects while suitable sites remain available may help provide greater flexibility for future development. Such an approach reflects an attempt to plan not only for current needs but also for anticipated future population growth.

Traditional approaches to commercial infrastructure in Anambra have generally relied on horizontal expansion. Given land constraints, alternative approaches such as multi-level markets, mixed-use developments, technology-enabled services, and more compact public facilities may become increasingly important options for accommodating future growth.

Negotiating with Culture

Implementing these ideas requires engagement with long-standing cultural values surrounding land ownership and inheritance. The alternative city space model does not seek to diminish these traditions. Rather, it aims to reduce the need for extensive land acquisition by promoting more efficient land use. Community participation, transparent planning processes, equitable compensation where appropriate, and designs that preserve important community spaces may help foster broader public acceptance of higher-density development while respecting the cultural significance of ala.

Building a Large Future on Limited Land

Anambra’s experience reflects challenges that many densely populated, land-constrained societies may increasingly encounter. Erosion continues to affect available land, population growth is expected to continue, and cultural attachment to ancestral land remains strong. The key question is how planning can effectively respond to these evolving realities.

The state’s strategic master plan proposes that these challenges can be addressed through coordinated long-term planning, including vertical development, digital infrastructure, and more efficient land use. If Anambra is to accommodate future population growth within its existing land area, careful planning, early land reservation, and innovative urban design may become increasingly important. In that context, the concept of alternative city space represents an effort to build for the future while respecting the cultural values and heritage that remain central to the identity of Ndị Anambra.

As Governor Soludo has stated, “only those who plan, control the future.”

Written by Anselm C. Onuorah, Ph.D, a Public Affairs Analyst