Uzodimma and his shared prosperity agenda

As McDonald Ebere once said, “Ndi Imo, o ruo la nu na omume! This is no longer a matter of talk – ‘I will do this; I will do that’. It is a matter of ‘I have done this; I have done that’. Action, they say, speaks louder than voice. The continued achievements of Governor Hope Uzodimma outlined below speak for him. This is our chance to sustain the good works of our Governor. Therefore, let’s come out on March 18 and vote APC members who will work with the Governor, to take Imo to a higher level of development and achievement, into our House of Assembly.”

Every politics is local. Progress matters. Let’s be the change we desire and support the Governor. Let’s be progressive in all we do by voting APC.

At critical junctures in history, major event(s) or factor(s) converge to disrupt the existing political, social, or economic balance. The emergence of His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma as the Governor of Imo State came at a critical juncture in Imo State history.

It came at a time when politics became most fractured; at a time the world was recovering from a depressed economy and a bitter memory of COVID-19 which killed thousands of people all over the world. Not forgetting the insecurity occasioned by the unknown gunmen and politically contrived killings that continued to dominate news headlines. Always regarded as a man of the people with a big heart, it is fitting that Uzodimma emerged during a particularly challenging moment of our shared history.

For close to a decade, Imo State witnessed stagnation and absence of growth in critical sectors of the economy, most especially, lack of adequate infrastructures and an absence of due process in governance. Uzodimma came to the scene at a time when the State was confronted with two critical choices: continue with the nosedive and plunge the state further into the nadir of despair or make a turn for the better.

And Governor Uzodimma embraced the option of making Imo State better, not only in an attempt to make good his promise to the Imo people, but also to entrench a legacy of good governance that truly transforms any society.

It was a daunting task not only because the decay was enormous, but also due to dwindling resources and the presence of a political class hell bent on demarketing Imo State, both nationally and internationally. They made it clear that there will be no peace as long as Uzodimma remains governor.

Uzodimma, who was rather buoyed by his carefully articulated roadmap for the people of Imo State, plunged on undeterred. The Uzodimma administration was anchored on the Shared Prosperity Agenda which stood on the tripod of reconstruction, rehabilitation, and recovery.

RECOVERY: Imo State witnessed what was regarded as a “rape” of its assets. Stolen resources included physical assets and intangible assets. In fulfilment of the recovery agenda of Governor Uzodimma, the following were accomplished:

The Eastern Palm University worth over 40 billion naira was recovered from former Governor Rochas Okorocha and his family. The University is now owned by the Imo State Government following the approval and issuance of certificate of ownership by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Imo State Standard Shoe Company, previously foreclosed by the Assets Management Company of Nigeria ( AMCON), was equally recovered after the settlement of its 1.5 billion naira indebtedness to AMCON.

Following the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Land and Related Matters, Governor Uzodimma handed over more than 2,000 plots of land to the original owners. Through the efforts of the state government, institutions reclaimed their lost assets. The Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education was given back the Alvan Quarters. The Magistrate Court quarters was recovered, including several properties belonging to various institutions. The designated new Government House Layout was returned to government.

The famous Eke Ukwu Owerri market, which is the ancestral market of Owerri people, was recovered.

The Imo State Rubber Plantation, which was illegally ceded to private operators and cronies of the previous administration, is now back into the hands of the government. The Rubber Estates are located in Emeabiam in Owerri West Local Government Area, Umuokanne Agriculture Rubber Estate, and the Obiti Rubber Plantation, both in Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area.

REHABILITATION is another agenda on the tripod. Here again, His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma, delivered on the following:

The rehabilitation of 305 Health Centres in the 305 electoral wards in Imo State.

The rehabilitation of the abandoned Adapalm Plantation which occupies an area of 4,310 hectares of oil palm. A new Public, Private Partnership arrangement is now in place, with the state and host communities holding joint stake in the Company. The money-spinning venture now produces about 120 tons of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) monthly.

The Acharaubo Farm Estate at Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area is back to life. Established by the government of Late Chief Sam Mbakwe, this livestock farm is now in operation with the Imo State Government partnering with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA).

The Otamiri Water Scheme, which served the Owerri Capital Territory, now delivers potable, hygienic water to members of the public. With the support of the World Bank and USAID, the Company won the 2022 Word Bank Utility of the Future Award as an acknowledgement of the successes recorded.

The Eluama Water Scheme in Orlu local government area and Ekenguru Water Scheme in Aboh Mbaise LGA has been rehabilitated.

In the area of RECONSTRUCTION, infrastructural revolution remains a defining feature of the Uzodimma-led administration. As a demonstration of his commitment to the infrastructural renewal agenda, 74.64% of the 2022 Imo State budget is allocated to capital expenditure. More than 1000 kilometres of road networks in both the urban and rural areas have so far witnessed reconstruction.

The 35 kilometres Owerri-Orlu dual carriageway and the 46 kilometres Owerri-Okigwe road was delivered as intercity road. The dualization of the Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road, another 46 kilometres stretch, is ongoing. Also under construction is the Orlu-Akokwa-Arondizogu-Uga road leading to Anambra State measuring 37 kilometres.

For Owerri capital territory, the following are some of the completed urban roads.

• Oparanozie Street
• Amaigbo Street
• Edede Street.
• Ring roads in Aladinma Housing Estate.
• Lake Nwaebere Street,
• Olokoro Street,
• Umuahia Street
• Okeikpe Street
• Arugo Street
• Egbema Street
• Ngwa Street
• Douglas Road
• JP Ajaelu Street
• Thomas Moore Street
• Gozie Nwachukwu Street
• Archdeacon Dennis Road, Aladinma
• Assumpta / IbariOgwa / Portharcourt Road
• Federal Secretariat Road (now Muhammadu Buhari Dual Carriageway Drive)
• Dick Tiger Road
• Akachi Road (now Evan Enwerem Way)
• Relief Market Road
• Imo University Teaching Hospital Road, Orlu
• Market Road, Opposite IMSU Gate
• Egbeada Bypass Road (dual carriageway)
• Sam Mbakwe Road.
• House of Assembly Back Gate Road.
• Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Road, and
• The Deputy Speakers Lodge Avenue, and many others.

As an administration that prioritizes inclusive development, the rural areas of Imo State are not left out. The Imo State Government is constructing 153 kilometres of rural roads at five kilometres per each local government area in the first phase of the program.

The famous Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri has been fully reconstructed, including the main complex, the indoors sports centre and the handball court. An Olympic sized swimming pool under construction in the same site, is now nearing completion.

The Imo State House of Assembly Main Complex has been fully reconstructed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the area of intangible assets, the government of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has added tremendous value:

The Alvan Ikoku College of Education has been elevated to a Federal University of Education.

The Federal Medical Centre, Owerri is now upgraded to a Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

The optimization of revenue processes through the Treasury Single Account (TSA) is another policy that has grown the internally generated revenue of the state.

The adoption of the SEFTAS open budget system has led to World Bank awards and an influx of financial grants.

Under Governor Hope Uzodimma, over thirty bills were passed and signed into law between January 2020 till date. Some of these laws are listed below:

• Imo State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law No. 1 of 2020
• Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 2 of 2020
• Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (Amendment) Law No. 3 of 2020
• COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases Prevention and Eradication Law No. 4 of 2020
• Imo State Waste Management Agency Law No. 5 of 2020
• Imo State Land Use Charge Law No. 6 of 2020
• Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies Aboh/Okpala (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 7 of 2020
• Imo State Governor’s Pension and Privileges (Repeal) Law No. 8 of 2020
• Oil (Licensing and Control) Law No. 9 of 2020
• Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters (Amendment) Law No. 10 of 2020
• Imo State Polytechnic (Amendment) Law No. 11 of 2020
• 2020 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation (Review) Law No. 12. of 2020
• Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) Law No. 13 of 2020
• Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Law No. 14 of 2020
• 2021 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation Law No. 15 of 2020
• Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law No. 16 of 2020
• Imo State Waste Management Agency (Amendment) Law No. 17 of 2020
• Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 18 of 2020
• Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 19 of 2020
• Kingsley Ozuomba (K. O) Mbadiwe University (Establishment) Law No. 1 of 2021
• Imo Security Organization (IMSO) Law No. 2 of 2021
• Imo State Land Administration and Geographical Information Service (Establishment) Law No. 3 of 2021
• Imo State Audit Law No. 5 of 2021.
• Imo State Dept Management (Establishment) law No. 6 of 2021.
• Imo State Markets Development Authority (Amendment) law No. 7, 2021.
• Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law No. 8, 2021.
• Imo State Supplementary Appropriation Law No. 9. 2021
• Imo State Local Government Development Areas Administration (Amendment) law No. 10 of 2021
• Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation law No. 11 of 2021

In today’s global economy, partnership is a critical tool for expanding economic

• Imo State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law No. 1 of 2020
• Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 2 of 2020
• Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (Amendment) Law No. 3 of 2020
• COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases Prevention and Eradication Law No. 4 of 2020
• Imo State Waste Management Agency Law No. 5 of 2020
• Imo State Land Use Charge Law No. 6 of 2020
• Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies Aboh/Okpala (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 7 of 2020
• Imo State Governor’s Pension and Privileges (Repeal) Law No. 8 of 2020
• Oil (Licensing and Control) Law No. 9 of 2020
• Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters (Amendment) Law No. 10 of 2020
• Imo State Polytechnic (Amendment) Law No. 11 of 2020
• 2020 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation (Review) Law No. 12. of 2020
• Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) Law No. 13 of 2020
• Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Law No. 14 of 2020
• 2021 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation Law No. 15 of 2020
• Imo State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law No. 16 of 2020
• Imo State Waste Management Agency (Amendment) Law No. 17 of 2020
• Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 18 of 2020
• Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 19 of 2020
• Kingsley Ozuomba (K. O) Mbadiwe University (Establishment) Law No. 1 of 2021
• Imo Security Organization (IMSO) Law No. 2 of 2021
• Imo State Land Administration and Geographical Information Service (Establishment) Law No. 3 of 2021
• Imo State Audit Law No. 5 of 2021.
• Imo State Dept Management (Establishment) law No. 6 of 2021.
• Imo State Markets Development Authority (Amendment) law No. 7, 2021.
• Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law No. 8, 2021.
• Imo State Supplementary Appropriation Law No. 9. 2021
• Imo State Local Government Development Areas Administration (Amendment) law No. 10 of 2021
• Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation law No. 11 of 2021evelopment. The Imo State Government under the leadership of Governor Uzodimma has partnered with several international development agencies to consolidate development in the state.

In 2022, Imo became one of the beneficiaries of the Special Agro Industrial processing project. This is a $160-million agricultural programme of the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural and the Islamic Development Bank. The project is a mega cluster-based infrastructure venture to aggregate farmers, processors, and retailers to connect agricultural production to the market. According to Dr Akinwumi Adesina, the AfDB President, Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, “the special agro-industrial processing zones will be game-changers for agriculture in Nigeria.”

Similarly, the Imo State Industrial and Innovation Park is slated for take-off. The multibillion-naira project will be situated at the Ibigwe Oilfield in Ohaji-Egbema LGA. Already, Waltersmith Petrolman Limited, an oil and gas production company in the community, has committed to the success of the project. The administration has equally secured from the federal government a new naval base located at Oguta. The base is now performing their maritime security duties along the Imo State waterways.

In the area of healthcare, more than 300 medical students have been graduated by the Imo State University Teaching Hospital located in Orlu, after a decade of non-accreditation. The Teaching Hospital is now fully equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities, including digital x-ray machines, mammogram machines, ambulance, dialysis machines, molecular biology, and chemical pathology laboratory equipment (for COVID-19 and other viral disease tests) and anesthetic machines.

The Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma in Owerri is now fully functional and performing complicated operations such as spinal and brain injury surgeries. To optimize healthcare service delivery across the state, the Governor has procured 10 mobile clinics for speedy intervention at the primary level. Public servants in Imo State both at the state and local government levels are beneficiaries of the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme. A new Ministry of Health Insurance was established to drive the agenda.

Imo State became the first state in Nigeria to create a Ministry of Digital Economy and E-government. The Imo Digital Economy Agenda (IDEA) 2022-2026) is the State Government’s policy document formulated to harness ICT potential to provide new solutions to developmental challenges and foster economic growth, competitiveness, enhance access to information and knowledge, poverty eradication and social inclusion.

A NEW ULTRA MODERN MARKET FOR OWERRI CAPITAL CITY
From the ashes of the destroyed Eke Ukwu Owerri market rises a brand-new modern market ready for commissioning soon. The new market layout includes;

• Retail Shops -1,728 units.
• Specialized Shops – 340 units.
• Warehouse – 72 units.
• Cold Room-12 units.
• Open Stalls-240 units
• Lockup Shops-240 units
• Police Post
• Public Toilets
• ATM Gallery
• Security Post – 7 units.
• Multi-Level Car Park
• And Open Stalls.

Across the state, there is renewed optimism, thanks to the Governor who has demonstrated commendable leadership in transforming the socio-economic fortune of the people.

Ugochukwu, special adviser, public enlightenment to the governor of Imo state, first wrote this article for Imo Economy Digest.