From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri


IMO State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha has disclosed that his government would commence the building of another university in the state within a short time.

A police station to befit the status of the institution and people of the area will also be put in place to compliment the existing one. According to him, the university will be located around Ngor Opkala axis of the state.

The governor made the disclosure yesterday while interacting with stakeholders in the state.

In the same vein, the state government has invited willing managing firms to tender for the management and maintenance of the Imo Concorde Hotel and turn it to a world-class five-star outfit.

The new Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr. Chinedu Offor stated this while addressing journalists at the weekend in Owerri after the weekly Executive Council Meeting.

"The time to manage the Concorde Hotel is now. It is now opened for business. Anybody or group of people who can manage it adequately and maintain it to five-star status would be welcomed by government," he said.

Speaking on a number of issues that were deliberated on at the meeting, Offor said the Exco adopted the enforcement of capital punishment as passed by the legislature earlier.

"After a critical look at the security situation in Imo State, council resolved to adopt the capital punishment as passed into Law for kidnappers."

Also, in order to stem the agony and sufferings of returnees affected by the Boko Haram insurgence, Offor said a "Diaspora Village" would be constructed to make them feel at ease and have a sense of belonging.

He also used the forum to announce that the state government had directed each community to provide at least 1,000 hectares of land for palm plantation and agricultural purpose, adding that the Ministry of Lands would allocate and issue land with Certificate of Occupancy for those willing to own genuinely.