Imo State Governor, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, has said
his administration remains stable in the task of rebuilding the state from ‘years
of ruins and neglect, it was plunged into by the last administration.’
In his address at an event to mark the 100 days of
his administration, the governor narrated his administration ‘impressive’
achievements in various sectors of the economy of the state.
He said the Imo Growth and Strategic Development
Agenda plan (G-SDP), a two-stage development horizon of a five-year economic
blueprint conceived by the Transition Technical Committee provided the roadmap
for the overall economic growth and development of the state, which include
among other things, the delivery of 381km rural access road projects,
restoration of an improved Owerri master plan, restoration of water supply in
Owerri metropolis, roll out of a state health insurance scheme as well as the
reactivation of four technical education institutions in the state.
The governor stated that others include an economic
growth and strategic development with emphasis on human capital development; agriculture
and food security, infrastructure, industrialisation and job creation as well
as security and environment.
Ihedioha said within 100 days in office, "the state
Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) increased from all-time low of about 300million
in July to 600million in August this year.
"This was as a result of transparency and
accountability in the governance process with the signing into law-Executive
Order 005 known as Treasury Single Account-which consolidated all government
revenues under one account.
"Imo State is now on track to join open governance
partnership which now qualifies it for performance-based grants of the World
Bank and other multinational development institutions."
The governor noted that his administration has
restored 100 percent workers’ salary in the state, paid backlog of local government
workers and recalled all unjustly suspended directors, reversed some undeserved
promotions and sponsored officers to capacity building programmes.
In the area of roads which he said has been in poor
condition for many years, Ihedioha said 14 critical roads are undergoing
reconstruction while the Rural Access and Mobility Projects involves 70 rural roads
network with a cumulative distance of 381 kilometres across 27 local government
areas.
"Security has also received great attention in
the last 100 days with the kickoff of Operation Iron Gate designed to combat
crimes and rid the state of all undesirable elements," he said.
In the health sector, he said the stalled Health
Insurance Scheme has been relaunched in the state to connect into the already
existing federal government Insurance Scheme.
On the perennial power problems affecting the state,
the governor said the Imo State Power and Rural Electrification Agency (I-POREA)
has been constituted to evolve strategies to remove barriers to adequate
exploitation of the power generation potential of the state.
"We have made remarkable progress towards the
restoration of electricity supply to some areas of the state where it was nonexistent
for many years. Seventy nine failed transformers across the state have been
replaced and electricity supply restored to Inyishi Aluminum Extrusion Company
and its environs as well as the completion of
Oguta 33kv line electricity project," he added.
Ihedioha stated that water supply which has been
lacking for many years in the state has also been restored with the
revitalisation of the Otammiri water supply.
He also revealed plans by his administration to
provide 5,000 affordable homes by 2023 by going into partnership with some
reputable primary mortgage institutions.
The governor further reiterated the commitment of
his administration to an agricultural roadmap which has been conceived by his administration, and
which represents a comprehensive framework
for self-sufficiency in food production both for domestic consumption
and for exports purposes.
He added that 500 youths from the 27 local government
areas of the state have been sent to Nassarawa State under the Imo Youths
Agricultural Programme (IYAP).
Governor Ihedioha noted further that rice farm
cluster have been established at Amumara in Ezinihite Mbaise which will make the
state sufficient in the production of improved variety of rice seeds with a
view of strengthening the rice value chain in the state.
Also, Ihedioha announced that as part of his government determination to
improve on ease of doing business in the state, the Imo State Enabling Business
Environment Council (ISEBEC), would be inaugurated, which will complement the
revamped Imo State Government Bureau of Public Procurements and Price
Intelligence.
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