Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state has reassured stakeholders of the state on the security of lives and properties.
The governor who spoke during the maiden Imo Stakeholders’ Luncheon held on Boxing Day at the Imo Government House, said his administration has prioritized the security of lives and properties.
The governor who, barely a month after his assumption of office, revamped the security architecture of the state by setting up a special anti-crime initiative tagged ‘Operation Iron Gate’, said the operation was still in tact; yielding results and functioning in full force.
Consequently, Imo has become an attractive investment destination as crime figures continue to drop.
The address of the governor at the parley made available to our correspondent by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entertainment, Hon. Eze Ugochukwu, read in part: “Our efforts at promoting investment is yielding positive results. We allocated land to AfrExim Bank, in Owerri, to build its regional quality assurance centre for the South-East and South-South zones. The facility is estimated at over $50million (N18Billion) and would surely boost our economy and commercial profile. Today also, we have six airlines now operating different routes to and from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, making us the third busiest airport in Nigeria”, the Governor declared.
Ihedioha also told the stakeholder that his administration is rebuilding Imo state beyond dependence on crude oil with its sight set on evolving global trends.
He said: “From the debate on climate change and the global race for clean energy, we need not be told that the days of crude oil are numbered. We must together prepare Imo for a future without crude oil.”
Ihedioha informed stakeholders that his administration is already deploying strategies such as laying an enduring foundation for the industrialization of the state through private sector participation and also building the capacity of youths in the state by inculcating in them globally competitive skills.
“We are also promoting both domestic and Foreign Direct Investments through strategies of economic diplomacy abroad and canvassing for local industrialists at the home front. We have designed a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) comprehensive strategy to partner with interested investors under various models”, the governor said.
He continued: “My dear distinguished Imolites, we believe that with our
estimated 1.2 million Diaspora population, Imo State is a power-house of Diaspora resources. We are thus emboldened to leverage our Diaspora capital for economic development as in the sea-turtle initiative of China. Diaspora investment could do for Imo State, what it did for the China, India and the Asian Tigers. Consequently, we are hosting a Diaspora Summit in January 3, 2020″.
Ihedioha noted that government alone cannot handle the task of rebuilding Imo to a model state, as huge financial obligations especially the salary and pension bills weighs heavily on government resources.
“Indeed, we spend 73 percent of our federally allocated revenue on staff salaries and pension. We are confronted with disaster in the infrastructure front. The State is saddled with the responsibility of providing quality and affordable education and healthcare for our people, as well as meeting up with other social obligations”, he explained.
Governor Emeka Ihedioha therefore urged all hands to be on deck.
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