FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF HISTORY - Governor Hope Uzodimma and his Shared Prosperity Agenda

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*Compiled by the Office of the Governor, Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment*

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 COVID 19 memory that killed thousands all over the world. Not forgetting the insecurity occasioned by the unknown gunmen and politically contrived killings.

Always regarded as a man of the people with a large and forgiving heart, it is fitting that Hope Uzodimma emerged during a divisive time like now.

For close to a decade, Imo State witnessed stagnation and lack of growth in critical sectors most especially, lack of adequate infrastructures and due process in governance.

At the time Uzodimma came, it was either that Imo State continue with the nosedive or make a turn for the better.

And Governor Hope Uzodimma choosed the option of making Imo State better.

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

The Uzodimma administration was anchored on the Shared Prosperity Agenda which stood on the tripod of reconstruction, rehabilitation and recovery.

1. RECOVERY:

Imo State witnessed what was regarded as a "rape" of its assets. Stolen resources included physical assets and non physical assets.

In fulfilment of the recovery agenda, Governor Uzodimma, the following were accomplished.

[A] 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.

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

[C] Following the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Land and Related Matters, Governor Uzodimma in implementing the report handed over more than 2,000 plots of land to the original owners. Institutions such as the Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education was given back the Alvan Quarters. Tje Magistrate Court quarters was recovered. So also many properties belonging to institutions. The designated new Government House

Layout was returned to government.

[D] The famous Eke Ukwu Owerri market which is the ancestral market of Owerri people was recovered.

[E] The Imo State Rubber Plantations which were clandestinely ceded to private operators 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.

[F] Also recovered were a number of markets scattered in different parts of the state; built with state resources but handed over to the cronies of the previous administration.

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

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

[ii] The rehabilitation of the abandoned Adapalm Plantation which occupies an area of 4,310 hectares of oil palm. Presently a new Public, Private Partnership management is in place with the state, and host communities holding shares in the company.

The money spinning venture now produces about 120 tons of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) monthly.

[iii] The Acharaubo Farm Estate at Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area is back to live. 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)

[iv] The Otamiri water scheme which served the Owerri Capital Territory is now supplying potable, hygienic water to the public. With the support of World Bank and USAID, the company won the 2022 Word Bank Utility of the Future Award as an acknowledgement of the successes recorded.

[v] 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*, what President Mohammadu Buhari described as infrastructural revolution is taking place under Governor Hope Uzodimma. More than 1000 kilometres of road in both the urban and rural areas has so far witnessed reconstruction.

The 2022 budget allocated 74.64% to capital expenditure. 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 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.

1. Oparanozie Street

2. Amaigbo Street

3. Edede Street.

4. Ring roads in Aladinma Housing Estate.

5. Lake Nwaebere Street,

6. Olokoro Street,

7. Umuahia Street

8. Okeikpe Street

9. Arugo Street

10. Egbema Street

11. Ngwa Street.

12. Douglas Road.

13. JP Ajaelu Street,

14. Thomas Moore Street

15. Gozie Nwachukwu Street

16. Archdeacon Dennis Road, Aladinma

17. Assumpta / Ibari Ogwa / Portharcourt road.

18. Federal Secretariat Road (now Muhammadu Buhari Dual carriageway Drive)

19. Dick Tiger Road

20. Akachi Road (now Evan Enwerem Way). (cause)

21. Relief Market road

22. Imo University Teaching Hospital Road, Orlu

23. Market Road, opp IMSU gate.

24. Egbeada Bypass Road (dual carriageway)

25. The Sam Mbakwe road.

26. The House of Assembly back gate road.

27. Shehu Musa Yar'Adua road.

28. The Deputy Speakers Lodge avenue.

*And many others*.

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.

[vi] The famous Dan Anyiam stadium in Owerri is fully reconstructed both the main complex, the indoors sports centre, the handball court. An Olympic sized swimming pool is now nearing completion.

[vii] The Imo State House of Assembly main complex is not totally reconstructed and commissioned by President Mohammadu Buhari.

In the area of *Intangible Assets* accomplishments, the government of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma has added tremendous value.

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

The Federal Medical Centre Owerri is now upgraded to 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 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.

1. Imo State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Law No. 1 of 2020

2. Imo State Administratration of Criminal Justice Law No. 2 of 2020

3. Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (Amendment) Law No. 3 of 2020

4. COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Diseases Prevention and Eradication Law No. 4 of 2020

5. Imo State Waste Management Agency Law No. 5 of 2020

6. Imo State Land Use Charge Law No. 6 of 2020

7. Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Studies Aboh/Okpala (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 7 of 2020

8. IMO State Governor's Pension and Privileges (Repeal) Law No. 8 of 2020

9. Oil (Licensing and Control) Law No. 9 of 2020

10. Imo State of Nigeria Traditional Rulers Autonomous Communities and Allied Matters (Amendment) Law No. 10 of 2020

11. Imo State Polytechnic (Amendment) Law No. 11 of 2020

12. 2020 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation (Review) Law No. 12. of 2020

13. Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) Law No. 13 of 2020

14. Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Law No. 14 of 2020

15. 2021 Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation Law No. 15 of 2020

16. Imo State Administratration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Law No. 16 of 2020

17. Imo State Waste Management Agency (Amendment) Law No. 17 of 2020

18. Imo State Bureau for the Co-ordination of Donor Assisted Projects (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 18 of 2020

19. Imo State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Law No. 19 of 2020

20. Kingsley Ozuomba (K. O) Mbadiwe University (Establishment) Law No. 1 of 2021

21. Imo Security Organization (IMSO) Law No. 2 of 2021

22. Imo State Land Administratration and Geographical Information Service (Establishment) Law No. 3 of 2021

23. Imo State Audit Law No. 5 of 2021.

24. Imo State Dept Management (Establishment) law No. 6 of 2021.

25. Imo State Markets Development Authority (Amendment) law No. 7, 2021.

26. Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law No. 8, 2021.

27. Imo State Supplementary Appropriation Law No. 9. 2021

28. Imo State Local Government Development Areas Administration (Amendment) law No. 10 of 2021

29. Imo State of Nigeria Appropriation law No. 11 of 2021

Governor Uzodimma has masterful partnered with *International Development Agencies*.

In 2022, Imo became one of the beneficiaries of the Special Agro Industrial processing project.

This is a $160-million agric programme of the African Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural etc. 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, who was once Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, “the special agro-industrial processing zones will be game-changers for agriculture in Nigeria.

Also the Imo State Industrial and Innovation park is slated for take off. The multi billion naira project will be situated at the Ibigwe Oil field, in Ohaji-Egbema LGA. Already Waltersmith Petrolman Limited, an oil and gas production company in the area has committed to the success of the project.

Also attracted from the federal government is a new naval base located at Oguta. The base is now performing their maritime security duties along the water ways of Imo State.

In the area of Health, more than 300 medical students has been graduated by the Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu,

after a decade of non accreditation.

The Teaching Hospital is now equiped with, Digital X-ray machines, Mammogram machine,

Ambulance, Dialysis machines,

Molecular Biology

and Chemical Pathology Laboratory equipment (for COVID-19 and other viral disease tests) and

Anastetic machines.

The Imo State Specialist Hospital Umuguma in Owerri is now fully functional and performing complicated operations like spinal and brain injury surgeries.

For healthcare service delivery, the Governor procured 10 mobile clinics for intervention at the primary level.

Workers in Imo State both the state and local government civil servants are free 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 sson.

The new market layout includes:-

Retail Shops-1,728 units.

Specialized Shops - 340 units.

Warehouse - 72 units.

Cold Room-12 units.

Open Stalls/Lockup Shops 240 units. Banks - 4 units.Fire Station.

Police Post.Public Toilets

Water TankATM Gallery.

Security Post - 7 units.

Incinerator. Multi Level Car Park

And Open Stalls.

*IMO AIRPORT* - We Are Installing Night Landing Facilities At Imo Airport ~ Governor Hope Uzodimma

No night flights has ever landed at the Imo Airport since its maiden flight. Governor Hope Uzodimma has now decided to bring night flights into Owerri. The thinking of the Governor is captured herein when he explained his vision as follows, -

"When we have night landing facilities, our brothers and sisters who are coming home from outside the country during this Christmas period will land in Owerri at night.

"Very soon harmattan will start and local flights are only allowed at night. And those who must come back will land in Port Harcourt or land in other neighbouring States, and then begin to come by road to Imo State.

"When we have facilities for night flight and navigation, they will fly straight into Owerri and if there is need for them to sleep overnight before going to the villages, they will patronize our own hotels.

"We are talking about the impact of our growth plan and economic recovery. Its like building a house. We must set out the plan, set out the pillars...We must design what is implementable, and that is what we are doing"

There is renewed buoyancy everywhere, thanks to the Governor who has demonstrated a commendable level of seriousness with impactful governance that is visible to everybody.

Compiled by Prince Eze Ugochukwu.

Office of the Governor,

Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment.

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