Health, Education, Agriculture, Youth Development, Sports Security, Get Huge Boost
Says his administration remains focused
Imo State Governor, Rt. Hon.Emeka Ihedioha CON, has said his administration remains unwavered 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’s 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 5 year Economic blueprint conceived by the Transition Technical Commitee 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 masterplan, 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, industrialization and job creation as well as security and environment.
Governor Ihedioha said within 100 days in office, “the State Internal Generated Revenue, IGR, increased from all time low of about 300m in July to 600m in August.
“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”.
Governor Ihedioha noted that his administration has restored 100 percent workers salary in the State, paid backlog of Local Goverment workers and recalled all unjustly suspended Directors, reversed some undeserved promotions, sponsored officers to capacity building programmes.
In the area of roads which has been in poor condition for many years, Governor 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 Governments.
“Security has also received great attention in the last 100 days with the kick off of Operation Iron Gate designed to combat crime and criminality and rid the State of all undesirable elements.”
In the health sector, the Governor said the stalled Health Insurance Scheme has been relaunched in the State to connect into already existing Federal Government Insurance Scheme.
On the perennial power problems affecting the State, Governor Ihedioha 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 potentials in the State.
“We have made remarkable progress towards the restoration of electricity supply to some areas of the State where it was non existent for many years. 79 failed transformers across the State have been replaced and electricity supply restored to Inyishi Aluminum Extrusion Company and it’s environs as well as the completion of Oguta 33kv line electricity project.”
He stated that water supply which has been lacking for many years in the State has been restored with the revitalisation of the Otammiri Water supply.
He also revealed plans by his administration to provide 5000 affordable homes by 2023 by going into partnership with some reputable primary mortgage institutions.
He 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.
The Governor said 500 youths from the 27 local governments of the State have been sent to Nassarawa State under the Imo Youths Agricultural Programme (IYAP).
Governor Ihedioha noted that Rice farm cluster have been established at Amumara in Ezinihite Mbaise which willmake Imo sufficient in the production of improved variety of rice seeds with a view of strengthening the rain value chain in the State
He said experts in rice brewing and processing from the Africa Rice Centre at IITA Ibadan will train young rural farmers in the State to grow and process improved rice seeds.
He said the Avutu poultry farm is on the verge of being restored to a world class standard while ADAPALM will soon commence operations.
Governor Ihedioha revealed that the State is set to host the only Agribusiness park in Nigeria at Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the State.
In the area of sports development , he said the Dan Anyiam stadium is being re-grassed after many years of neglect while installation of new flood lights, replacing the seats and constructing Olympic standard tartan tracks is underway.
He said the Grasshopper International Handball stadium, Owerri will also begin to wear a new look while the local councils have joined the the talent hunt programme of the State Government through construction of sporting facilities in their respective local governments.
Governor Ihedioha announced that as part of his government’s determination to improve on ease of doing business in the State, the Imo State Enabling Business Environment Council, ISEBEC, would be inaugurated which will compliment the revamped Imo State Government Bureau of Public Procurements and Price Intelligence.
He said the State Government is willing in getting the process right once and for all after inheriting over 6 years of pension arrears and discovery of baffling discrepancies in the total number of pensioners in both the State and the 27 local governments
He explained that the ongoing pension verification is aimed at ending the perennial cycle of verification that has plagued the process for a long period.
He said the State Government has achieved a lot in the area of sanitation by reviving the monthly clean up exercise while remarkable progress has been made in the education sector.
He said his administration has flagged off the rebuilding and equipping of four technical colleges in the State namely Government Technical College, Owerri, Ahiara Technical College, Government Technical College, Okporo, Orlu and Government Technical College, Osu.
He expressed hope that by 2020 the State would hit 60 percent mark of post Basic students as enrollees in the TVET system.
