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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. Ορμή Τρίνεξ
