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Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing - Travel - Nairaland

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Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 6:32pm On Jan 07, 2018
Most Nigerians dwelled on social media rumours to an extent that while other Cities were sleeping the city of Owerri got transformed in what seemed like overnight. Even though it's still ongoing a visit to the city will leave anyone with hope that Nigeria in general can be transformed. It wasn't an easy task as it took Governor Okorocha a very big will to do what is right no matter how it affects his rating. In a few years time most of the hardship caused by the revolutionary transformation must have elapsed and Nigerians will have one more Abuja to boast of in Owerri. This is how "The Nation" reported it.

http://thenationonlineng.net/owerri-gains-pains-urban-renewal-2/

Owerri: Gains, pains of urban renewal

It has been a memorable year for Imo State residents. They have seen statues named after prominent Africans wow some and infuriate others. Now traders, artisans, and commercial tricycle (keke) operators in Owerri, the state capital, are seeing major markets being knocked down to make way for the state’s master plan. It is the remodeling of the capital city under the state government’s urban renewal plan but not everyone is happy about it. Those who did business in the markets are lamenting their losses and inconveniences. Others who see the bigger picture are rejoicing because the capital city is replacing an unflattering exterior with a fascinating one.

Under the remodeling plan, traders were relocated to newly built markets. Gigantic buildings that stood on waterways and other routes were pulled down to expand the urban roads. Tricycle operators, popularly known as ‘keke riders’ were banned from the state capital.

Today not too many returnees flocking into Owerri for the Yuletide will know their way around the capital city. The reason: all the major roads, such as the Bank Road now renamed Muhammadu Buhari Road, Wethdral Road, renamed Sam Mbakwe Road, and Okigwe Road, renamed Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, have been upgraded to four-lane roads on both sides with reflective road signs.

The nerve-wracking gridlock that made the city a nightmare for visitors, especially during festive periods is gone. Motorists plying the roads now relish the comfort of driving through the newly built roads without having to waste their productive time.

The hospitality industry is one sector that has benefited immensely from the urban renewal programme. The hostels are all warming up for a big haul as fun seekers from far and near are already trooping into Owerri for the Yuletide holiday.

But like the saying goes, one cannot make omelete without breaking eggs. The new face of Owerri came at a price. The traders ejected from the Owerri Main Market, also known as ‘Eke Ukwu Owerri’ and the New Market are still counting their losses. The same applies to the mechanics and other artisans who were sacked from the city centre and relocated to the new mechanic village located on the outskirts of the city.

Keke operators are still to come to terms with their eventual sack from the capital territory after years of playing the ostrich with the state government’s directive that banned their activities.

Owners of buildings without requisite approvals are also among those licking their wounds. There is hardly any sector that was not affected in one way or the other by the exercise but gladly the end has justified the huge sacrifice and resources committed to the programme.

The urban renewal, majorly the relocation of the markets, was regarded as historic because of the fierce resistance that greeted the idea for several decades. Indigenes and shylock traders who benefited from the chaos created by the crowded markets grouped against the plan to relocate or remodel any of the markets or widen the roads.

For instance, previous administrations, including the military, have made spirited efforts to relocate the Owerri Main Market from Douglas Road in the heart of the capital city to make way for the expansion in order to check traffic congestion and criminal activities.

The plan was stubbornly resisted by the defiant traders who hid under clannish sentiments to frustrate government efforts. Bemoaning the demolition of the markets, the traders blamed the state government for carrying out the exercise at a period the country was going through recession. They lamented that the urban renewal programme had brought untold hardship on the common people who rely on their petty trading at the markets to cater for their families.

Commuters who had relied on the chaotic services of keke operators for their shuttle now walk long distances to get to their places of work or business.

According to one of the displaced traders at the Owerri Main Market, Mrs. Rosaline Ikuebena, it is still like a terrible nightmare.

“I cannot believe that by today I will be roaming the streets in search of what to do after owning several shops at the Owerri Market,” she said. “We are suffering, many families that depended on trading to survive are currently frustrated. Some of them have returned to the village, while very many others have resorted to begging to provide for their families. We are in big trouble and we need help.

“When we were forced out of the market, the state government promised to assist us to settle down in the new markets but today very few of us can afford the cost of the new market shops”.

The President-General of the Owerri Main Market Union, Mr. Uche Kamsochi, appealed to the state government and other relevant authorities on behalf of the traders to look into their plight, “the traders are suffering and we need assistance. We are not opposition the urban renewal programme but we are asking that the displaced traders who paid the price should be considered”

But very many other residents are happy over the remodeling of the state capital. The new-look Owerri is indeed a sight to behold, especially at night when thousands of light glow, sending a flood of rainbow colour across the city.

The chaos caused by the sound and pollution of the innumerable tricycles that struggled for potential customers from sunrise to sunset, are all gone. To a very great extent, sanity that has eluded Owerri capital city has returned.

Dr. Moses Onwubualiri, a medical practitioner who lives in the city, commended the state government for the political will to embark on the urban renewal project.

According to him, the remodeling of Owerri in line with the capital city master plan is long overdue but successive administrations had shied away from undertaking the responsibility because of the anticipated political backlash. But now that it has been done everybody is happy. You can now move freely in Owerri without having to contend with the noise and pollution caused by the sprawling markets or keke riders.

Another Owerri resident, Ikokwu Ezekiel, a legal practitioner, described the programme as a most welcomed development, “it is a great idea even though it came with a huge price, Owerri is now a befitting state capital, about one of the best in the country”.

Also commending the programme, the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Kayode Aremu, said that the Urban Renewal Programme “has gone a long way in addressing road challenges”.

He said the relocation of major market from the city has paved way for free flow of traffic.

H said: “The city is now decongested and we have more road networks, this is good for traffic management and it has helped us to respond to emergencies promptly”.

Justifying his decision to embark on the project against initial resistance by the traders and members of the opposition party, the state governor, Rochas Okorocha, said that apart from making Owerri one of the best state capitals in the country, the programme is aimed at attracting investors and making Owerri a tourist centre.

Apparently referring to the plight of the traders, the governor argued that “for one to make an Omellete, eggs must be broken”.

He said: “The issue of Eke-ukwu (Owerri Main Market) was taken beyond the scope it represents and I still maintain that the removal of that market was the best thing that has happened to Owerri capital city and has brought sanity to the city.

“Before now the headquarter of all criminal activities was at the Eke-ukwu and as we progress we want to live like other Cities in the world, in decent society markets of that nature must be placed at a proper place and not right in the centre of the city where it does not only constitute nuisance but also promotes criminal activities.

“This will make our State a tourist centre and will encourage investors to come into our land, we shall continue with the urban renewal as we widen the roads, distill the gutters, relocating markets and making sure that keke operators are no longer in the streets of Owerri city”.



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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Nogodye(m): 6:35pm On Jan 07, 2018
While some are busy erecting statue...God dey

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by sarrki(m): 6:36pm On Jan 07, 2018
Igbos remnants will dispute this

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 6:40pm On Jan 07, 2018
I spent my holidays there but the hazy weather wasn't favorable for photoshoot

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 6:41pm On Jan 07, 2018
sarrki:
Igbos remnants will dispute this



www.nairaland.com/attachments/6515274_fbimg1515257544802_jpeg7ab599e711f29cc8b8b0ec23f36d1372




While they celebrate the worthless village medicine man abi witch doctor.... grin grin grin

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 6:43pm On Jan 07, 2018
sarrki:
Igbos remnants will dispute this

I don't think what they say really matters because political interest could make one blind to reality. Most Imo indigenes that returned from diaspora will attest to this fact.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by JONNYSPUTE(m): 6:44pm On Jan 07, 2018
Op its not complete. Where are the status?

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 6:47pm On Jan 07, 2018
JONNYSPUTE:
Op its not complete. Where are the status?


People too love the statues. I don't know if they all want to be moulded.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by JONNYSPUTE(m): 6:51pm On Jan 07, 2018
Abagworo:



People too love the statues. I don't know if they all want to be moulded.
. Ok. You are on point but,akpuola gi?

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 6:54pm On Jan 07, 2018
www.nairaland.com/attachments/6518734_heroes52080x1560_jpegb7b25cb4db9a2c99f898b4270e94e09e




These are going to be huge money maker and tourist attraction.



It's already in the history books as the world's largest collection of statues of African leaders.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by PapaBrowne(m): 6:58pm On Jan 07, 2018
Owerri is nice. My comment is coming .

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 7:03pm On Jan 07, 2018
Even the Christmas village has a winter-like outlook achieved with white sand. It looks like snow on camera.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Kingsley10000: 7:07pm On Jan 07, 2018
cc beljingdoser aka chino
Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by NgeneUkwenu(f): 7:08pm On Jan 07, 2018
Okorocha Remains The Best Governor In The South East Followed Closely By Dave Umahi....The rest are as useless as they come especially Ikpeazu and That Orobo in Enugu State...

Okorocha For President 2023...

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 7:09pm On Jan 07, 2018
Here is example of what diasporans think.

Gov. Rochas Okorocha (Owelle)
The untold story about the Moulded Africa heads of States, His Governance and rapid development of Owerri metropolis.

My name is Destiny Ifeanyi, from Akatta in Oru East LGA Imo state, I Reside in Guangzhou China and Lagos Nigeria,
I was in Owerri on 30th of December 2017 and I saw for my self how beautiful this man Rochas has transformed the city within this short period of time that he has been at the helm of Imo state Affairs, all over the world people are flying fake news without even visiting Imo state at least for once and they are buying these Evil News that May Be cooked by the opposition just to run down Rochas government,
Am not saying that Rochas is a saint but he has done better than any governor Imo state has ever produced, the record and the evidence is scattered all over Imo state.

Interestingly I visited the famous hero Square and the Imo state Hall of Fame, luckily I was able to enter into the vicinity which was barricaded with some Security officials securing the place, I find out so many untold truths that must be told, it will be a sin to me and my conscience will always judge me after seeing these magnificent structures and sculptures on ground without telling my findings, I found out that Rochas is simply making Imo state the center of tourism and a city with so many side attractions in Nigeria, though the place is still under construction and when completed you must pay a get fee before going into the vicinity, so many Nigeria and African greatest men are moulded there, works are still in progress there, beside you will also see the Imo hall of fame where you will also find many sculptures of Africa great men, with their history also displayed, with so many other things.
By the time this complex is fully completed whoever that visited Owerri must want to go inside to see things for him or herself
This will also be a money making machine for Imo state if plan and utilize well...

The problem we Africans have is that we don’t preserve culture and history, I don’t know how many world heritage sites we have in Nigeria, I have been in so many part of the world, precisely in the city of Guangzhou China where I live you will find a site that have existed for 3-5000 yrs, and tourist still pay to visit those sites till date.

What Rochas has done is worthy of emulation
I think people should always verify every stories before spreading it, this is real political witchcraft and people like me that are not into politics must be careful so that these political power mongers will not use us to achieve their evil aim.

The way people are mocking this man is not the way it is, all this is a typical lies just to rubbish the effort of this man, I went into Owerri from Douglas Rd, wethdral Rd to Okigwe Rd and many other part of Owerri the setting and the beautification is so magnificent, Owerri is gradually becoming a world glass city, and with the passion and creativity I saw in this man he must achieve his dreams,

I Am not a politician, I don’t even have anyone in Rochas Government either a brother or a friend, never, I just make my findings and think that the real truth must be told, posterity must judge me if I shut up my mouth without saying this, he may remove so many markets inside Owerri city and move them to Owerri outskirts, when you visit there you will see his reasons, he may ban Keke napep riders inside Owerri when you visit Owerri you will know his reasons, though he has to do more to double the number of mini taxis inside Owerri at least to ease the sufferings of people.

Finally Rochas may have so many short comings in his governance in some areas but we must also have to understand that no government is perfect, the most important is that his good deeds supersede the bad ones and his percentage rating by people on ground is very overwhelming, I sincerely commend him... Kudos to him...
Pls lets encourage our leaders to do more, pulling them down with unnecessary media and online criticisms will never move us forward or to any where.

Destiny Ifeanyi
Wandering around Imo Hero’s Square / Imo state Hall of Fame
Dreaming the day I will be also be moulded
Just as these African Great men.
Kamputakwanu...

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by eruchboy(m): 7:11pm On Jan 07, 2018
grin ;Dnice one.Rochas should keep on the good works.Land of statues

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by NgeneUkwenu(f): 7:12pm On Jan 07, 2018
lalasticlala
Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by carchatz: 7:17pm On Jan 07, 2018
NgeneUkwenu:
Okorocha Remains The Best Governor In The South East Followed Closely By Dave Umahi....The rest are as useless as they come especially Ikpeazu and That Orobo in Enugu State...

Okorocha For President 2023...

ogbeni rauf has more projects than all the South East govs put together. opari

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:17pm On Jan 07, 2018

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:21pm On Jan 07, 2018

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by PhockPhockMan: 7:21pm On Jan 07, 2018
I don't really know what this poster is trying to achieve with this crap. We've seen the best APC and Okorocha can offer Imo people.
Your trying to deceive people into thinking that Okorocha constructed the whole of Owerri from scratch. Go to the rural areas you will spit on Okorocha and his APC, all the fake roads he constructed some years ago has all collapsed.

APC is a big scam.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by NgeneUkwenu(f): 7:21pm On Jan 07, 2018
carchatz:


ogbeni rauf has more projects than all the South East govs put together. opari

Did you read my post very well? Is Osun in the South East?

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:23pm On Jan 07, 2018
NgeneUkwenu:


Did you read my post very well? Is Osun in the South East?



It is, according to that ipob illiterate..

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:24pm On Jan 07, 2018
Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by sarrki(m): 7:24pm On Jan 07, 2018
NgeneUkwenu:
Okorocha Remains The Best Governor In The South East Followed Closely By Dave Umahi....The rest are as useless as they come especially Ikpeazu and That Orobo in Enugu State...

Okorocha For President 2023...

Sis Umahi work ooooo

I love him so much
Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 7:26pm On Jan 07, 2018
PhockPhockMan:
I don't really know what this poster is trying to achieve with this crap. We've seen the best APC and Okorocha can offer Imo people.
Your trying to deceive people into thinking that Okorocha constructed the whole of Owerri from scratch. Go to the rural areas you will spit on Okorocha and his APC, all the fake roads he constructed some years ago has all collapsed.

APC is a big scam.

90% of those who returned this season unanimously agree so you might belong to the 10%.

15 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by olasaad(f): 7:28pm On Jan 07, 2018
Wow this is nice we can show it to Ipob president, Donald Trump to know that African no longer lives in hut and mud house

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by Abagworo(m): 7:29pm On Jan 07, 2018
deomelllo:

Most of the areas on your photos are no longer same. Example is this photo of same spot.

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:32pm On Jan 07, 2018

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:35pm On Jan 07, 2018
PhockPhockMan:
I don't really know what this poster is trying to achieve with this crap. We've seen the best APC and Okorocha can offer Imo people.
Your trying to deceive people into thinking that Okorocha constructed the whole of Owerri from scratch. Go to the rural areas you will spit on Okorocha and his APC, all the fake roads he constructed some years ago has all collapsed.

APC is a big scam.


Update on developments in Anambra state-photos

https://www.nairaland.com/4245053/update-developments-anambra-state-photos/4


Confine yourself to the dirty rubbish your brother is posting in the above thread..

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Re: Level Of Transformation Of Owerri City Is Amazing by deomelllo: 7:38pm On Jan 07, 2018

1 Like

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