From Growth to Development: How Soludo’s Tax Policies Are Cooking a New Anambra
Let’s be honest, when you hear the word “tax,” your first instinct is to hold your pocket tighter
Starting a business in Nigeria often feels like navigating a maze of paperwork, unclear fees, and frustrating delays. In Anambra, however, a transformation is underway — one that’s making the state a standout destination for investors. Through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) and the proactive efforts of the Anambra State Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA’s), the state is cutting red tape, digitizing processes, and building a predictable, transparent, investor-friendly environment. This isn’t just about simplifying bureaucracy; it’s about unlocking economic potential, attracting private capital, and creating jobs that uplift communities.
Anambra’s progress is tangible and measurable. Land administration is being modernized with a geographic information system (GIS) that digitizes records and speeds up titling and verification — reducing disputes and due-diligence time for property-heavy projects. A visit to the Ministry of Lands website now shows clear service requirements for items like the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). When applicants supply all required documents, the certificate can be issued in as little as 11 days — a game-changer for investors who previously faced endless office visits and uncertainty.
The state is also creating clearer policy frameworks and investment-ready project pipelines in critical sectors such as broadband and power. An executive order eliminating right-of-way fees (₦0 per linear meter for broadband fiber deployment) removes a major cost barrier for infrastructure developers. At the same time, detailed plans for mini-grids and renewable projects give investors transparent technical and financial expectations, making such projects more bankable.
ANSIPPA plays a pivotal coordinating role as a one-stop shop for investors. Its centralized portal (ansippa.com.ng) hosts verified project briefs, public-private partnership (PPP) opportunities, and sector reports, helping investors move from interest to action faster. By publishing clear project outlines and hosting summits that connect developers with decision-makers, ANSIPPA significantly reduces the time spent chasing leads and approvals.
Digital transformation is another cornerstone of reform. The State ICT Agency is rolling out e-government systems that make fees, timelines, and approvals transparent and trackable across ministries. From digitized land searches to centralized PPP materials, these systems reduce discretionary delays and improve consistency — two qualities that build investor confidence.
For entrepreneurs and investors, Anambra now offers practical tools to evaluate and seize opportunities. The ANSIPPA portal is a starting point for live projects; GIS-enabled land data simplifies site assessments; and ICT and power programs offer partnership chances for tech and energy firms. While these reforms won’t produce overnight miracles, they are creating reliable, repeatable processes that make business easier and more sustainable.
By combining predictable approvals, digital land data, and an active investment agency, Anambra is positioning itself on the investment map. The result: deals move faster, risks are lower, and capital flows into sectors that matter — power, agribusiness, manufacturing, and ICT. That is how the state is building growth that delivers real economic impact.
Let’s be honest, when you hear the word “tax,” your first instinct is to hold your pocket tighter
According to the World Bank, Nigeria received over $21 billion in remittances in 2022, and Anambra, being one of the most entrepreneurial states, is a major beneficiary. These inflows surpass oil revenues in some years, making them one of the strongest forces behind local development.
As a growing child, most Nigerians speculated on the ways to turn trees to cash. We all dreamt that the big Mango tree behind our building somehow shed Naira notes instead of the annoying dried leaves. But obviously, you cannot turn trees to cash because, trees are just trees and cash is, well, a different story. This same mentality was how we all looked at waste. When a product becomes waste, it is supposed to stay as it is – waste! But, countries like China have crushed this mentality by turning waste to mass income boosters.
Last week, Nigeria witnessed yet another transfer of power at the highest level, marking the beginning of a new era with fresh faces entering the political scene. The events leading up to this moment were captivating, with hopes, dreams, agendas, and politicking shaping the outcome on May 29, 2023. The significance of this transition will undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of history and will greatly influence our future as a nation.
It takes grit, hard work, and unceasing resilience to build a sustainable company from scratch in Nigeria. This is a feat only a few have achieved, and the Chief Executive Officer of GVE Holdings, Ifeanyi Orajaka is one of the selected few. As part of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency's (ANSIPPA) mission to promote investors operating in the State, the team had an interview session with the young CEO to better understand how he has managed to thrive in an uncommon sector despite the many challenges the global economy presents.
