₦airaland Forum

Keep off RAMP projects, Okorocha advises Ihedioha

May 28, 2019
in Local News, News

By AFAM Echi

As part of his concluding official assignments, the outgoing Imo governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha Monday flagged of the construction of the 380.5km roads for rural areas under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP).

The RAMP project which is a World Bank project jointly sponsored by the Imo State government and the World Bank is designed to cover 380.5km of rural roads in the state at whooping cost of 60m US dollars or 21 billion naira.

The governor stated that it is one of the Rescue Mission Project which struggle commenced about seven years ago involving him to shuttle many times between France, Abuja, Federal Ministry of Finance etc before it was realized.

Okorocha in his words, ‘’Imo is the first beneficiary of this first French supported project costing 60m dollars, the fund just arrived few weeks ago and is domiciled at the First Bank of Nigeria, Owerri branch. Project has been approved and ready for take-off.’’

He advised the incoming government to keep to the rules and avoid stories on the project. According to him, we brought the funds, designed the roads, and the life time of the project is two years.’’

Earlier, the National Co-ordinator of RAMP, Hon Olaramu Ubandoma had indicated that the event which he described as ground breaking will greatly contribute to the opening of the entire rural areas in Imo State, improve agricultural activities which will further reduce unemployment.

He thanked the Imo State governor for providing their counterpart funding without which the RAMP would not have been a reality in Imo and advised the incoming government to sustain the tempo.

Ubandoma further informed that 7 companies have mobilized their personnel and machines to Imo and sought the cooperation of the benefitting communities to provide good working environment.

He assured that the contractors will maintain high standards adding that those who indulge in sharp practices would be sanctioned.

Espousing on the benefits of the RAMP projects, the Co-ordinator stated that, ‘’RAMP comes with good tidings.

An organization called International Institute for Local Government, will be giving a soft loan to all small scale farmers living along the corridors of the RAMP project. So also would some Microfinance groups support their efforts’’

He expressed gratitude to the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance, National Planning Commission, members of the fourth estate of the realm, and especially the Imo governor for his doggedness and steadfastness in realizing the project.

https://hornnewsnigeria.com/2019/05/28/keep-off-ramp-projects-okorocha-advises-ihedioha/

Empire Filling Station in Owerri Opens for Business
by hornnews

May 28, 2019

By EDISON Okereke
With 700 employees in its employ working in various capacities in Empire Super Mega Filling Station located at Naze, near Owerri one of the Industrial Layouts of Imo State, the station has been described variously as the first of its kind and a revolution of sorts in petroleum marketing and distribution in the country.

Declaring it open, over the weekend, the out-going governor, Rochas Okorocha commended the foresight of the owner, chief Bennett Korie and for bringing the business back home.

“Comrade Bennett Korie, you’re an illustrious son of Imo State in whom we’re well-pleased. You’ve done well. God bless you. Thank you for coming back home,” the governor said.

Okorocha urged Imolites in the diaspora to emulate Korie’s example by coming home to invest, describing it as a ‘sacrifice’

The governor lambasted some politicians in the state whom he accused do not have addresses not to talk of investments in the state

“About 90% of politicians in Imo State have no addresses. They have nothing to establish to give any person a job in the state. So I wish all politicians in the state will be like Korie,” he said.

He urged Imolites in the diaspora to emulate the Empire oil mogul, come home and invest.

In his speech, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, chief Korie, said that a lot of the people’s problems could be solved at the Empire Energy as spare parts of all kinds would be produced there.

As he put it, “Today, we have built the biggest ever filling station – everything you can think of can be solved in this place,” adding that the station belongs to all Imolites.

The former Petroleum Taskforce chairman in the state gave a brief history of the station which he started in 2015, debunking the speculations that it belongs to the governor.

He eulogized Okorocha for his vision and good work in the state, describing him as the number one governor in the country due to his development strides in the state.

He said that it was these that encouraged him to cite the station in the state.

Korie disclosed that the Seven hundred employees were recruited from among the 11,000 applications received.

Chief Korie commended the host community, Naze, for its roles and encouragement.
After the opening, some free litres of petrol and kerosene were given to some motorists and motorcyclists.

There were entertainment and music.

Empire filling station started twenty-three years ago in Jos, Plateau State capital.

It later spread its tentacles to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Warri and Abuja and is in various partnerships with overseas countries.


https://hornnewsnigeria.com/2019/05/28/empire-filling-station-owerri-opens-business/

Okorocha: I Have Kept N42bn For Ihedioha .Swears In New Head of Service, Accountant General, Perm Secs

Posted by admin on May 28th, 2019 and filed under News.

By Onyekachi Eze

The outgoing governor of Imo State and Rescue Mission progenitor, Rochas Okorocha has declared that he has kept a whooping sum of forty two billion naira (#42,000,000,000) for his successor, Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha.
Okorocha made this emphatic statement during the inauguration of Permanent Secretaries, Head of Service and Accountant General yesterday in Owerri.
The governor, according to the press statement signed by his CPS, Sam Onwuemeodo boasts of leaving a huge sum of #42.5bn for Chief Ihedioha, stating that he did so in order not to be any excuses in discharging government duties effectively by his successor.
Owelle Okorocha didn’t only made the public declaration without giving reasons or purpose it was meant for.
He averred that N8.1billion of the money is meant for the payment of salaries and Capital Projects, while N5.2billion is for the payment of Pension Arrears.
In furtherance, the Press statement said, “N7.6billion was meant for the renovation of schools, while N21.6billion was mapped out for rural roads, totaling N42.5billion”.
However, he revealed that the payment of pension arrears and other debts were halted following petitions from some PDP chieftains and the anti graft agencies, EFCC.
Addressing his newly appointees, Rochas Okorocha retorted, “Remember God in discharging your duties. Discharge your duties without fear or favour and also defend your State when the need arises. I gave this State my best. I will do all I can to support the incoming government. Imo State Government have kept aside a total of N4.5b for the in-coming government, and for that reason, I will set up a sub-committee to make sure that the projects they are attached to, come to fruition even when I am out of office or when I will not be available because government is a continuum”.
He continued “The breakdown of these funds are as follows: N8.1b that came into Imo State offers from both State and LG, from FAAC, that money has not been expended as not even one naira has been taken away from it and the money is in Zenith Bank and has not been touched. The second money is N5.2bn in Access Bank, the reminant of the Paris Club fund, not one naira has been removed from it”.
He further stated “The third fund is N7.6b, money that came from UBEC. Imo State has paid a total of N3.8b counterpart fund and UBEC has brought in their N3.8b. That gave us N7.6b. That money is intact and not one naira has been removed from it. The fourth fund is the RAMP fund of $60m representing N21.6b and is also in Imo State Government’s account. It is with First Bank. The money is also here in Imo State and no one naira has been touched”.
According to him “If you total N8.1b plus N5.2b, N7.6b and N21.6b, you have a total of N42.6b which I will be handing over to Emeka Ihedioha led government as from the 29th of May, 2019. How are these money meant to be expended? I want to put it succinctly clear. The N8.1b naira from FAAC usually will cover the cost of salaries and capital projects. This government is expected to spend this N8.1b naira for the payment of salaries for May and also for the payment of other Contractual obligations as may be deemed fit.”

http://www.imotrumpeta.com/?p=24721

You guys should stop all these lies against Rochas Okorocha. He has his shortcomings but he did well. He currently has the best performance since 1999.

For every one project you mention in Okigwe zone, I would mention three in Orlu zone. I am not talking of appointments given majorly to Ndi Orlu by Rochas. Okigwe zone benefited least and little from Rochas Okorocha administration despite the support he got for his 2nd term re election and that was responsible for the huge successes recorded by APGA in the zone.

Imo1stson:
Contrary to what you wrote Okorocha actually spread development to both Okigwe and Orlu as well as most villages in all 3 zones. He just didn't invest in media hype while his opposition concentrated in exaggerating what he has not done or where he erred. If I mention what he built in Okigwe zone it could be up to 500 verifiable projects projects including roads, schools, hospitals, ICT centers, markets and more.

Rochas did most of his development efforts in Owerri and Orlu leaving Okigwe zone with little.

As of today, Orlu has two tertiary hospital. IMSUTH and Nigerian Police Hospital (a federal hospital that is usually well staffed and equipped) done by Rochas.

Orlu has five universities and two polytechnics courtesy of Rochas

All the federal government projects built by the Imo State government were approved by the federal government and should be reimbursed to Imo state in due course.

The construction and completion of the Nigerian Police College of Finance and Administration Ideato is contained in FGN 2019 budget proposal. This project was attracted and built by Rochas and handed over to the police who is now funding it.

LEARN TO SHOW APPRECIATION.

kikake:
So State governor builds projects and gives the completed projects free of charge to federal government, as are the Okorocha govt projects you mentioned?

Gov. Okorocha who did nearly all his government's development efforts in Owerri, destroyed every govt development project he met in Orlu, but now wants to represent Orlu zone in the Senate, he made Nigerians look at him as a craze man.

If you put into consideration how unjustly Igbos have been treated in Buhari's administration 1st term, then you would appreciate the effort he made to attract these projects.

Xander85:
I hope you’re just being sarcastic!

I disagree with your assertions. Listed below are some of the federal projects attracted by Rochas Okorocha to Imo State

1. Nigerian Airforce Quick Response Group Base in Owerri

2 Nigerian Police College of Finance and Administration Ideato

3. Three military and One Police Federal hospitals

kikake:
Isorite.

Lesson is that Ihedioha even as a legislator attracted a federal development project to Imo state.

A pot bellied humpty dumpty we mistakenly elected governor in 2011 did not attract any significant federal development project from his ruling party.
He was rather using our federal allocations to sponsor federal projects, because he wants to be seen as good presidential material.
He couldn't even provide Imo with essential projects like water supply. He uprooted many of the huge pipes of Owerri water supply, perhaps including Okigwe's.

This project was attracted by Hon Emeka Ihedioha to his Mbutu home town when he was in the house of representatives. The project was approved and construction started during the Goodluck Jonathan administration
.

kikake:
If Dr Onu finally pulls this instititute through, its multiplier effects like jobs and more food, can't be far-fetched. The institute becomes the first significant gain of Imo state from APC federal government since 2015.

Nigeria to Produce Agricultural Machinery Soon ― FG

By ADEMOLA ADEGBITE | ABUJA On May 20, 2019

THE Federal Government will soon commission Agricultural Machinery and Development Institute (AMEDI) in Mbotu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state.

Speaking when he visited the Institute at the weekend, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed that the institute would design and produce agricultural machinery for farming, planting, processing, and harvesting of agricultural produce.

In a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations Unit of the ministry, AbdulGaniyu Aminu, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on Monday, Dr Onu further said the institute was established in order to ensure food security in Nigeria.

According to him, my visit to the institute is to enable me to assess the level of work in preparation for the commissioning.

“The institute is not for actual production, our interest is for them to do the design and do the necessary research so that the commercialization will be done by the organized private Sector.

“If we involve our businessmen and women all over the world, the level of commercialization will be much higher. We would not only be in a position to produce this machine to be used locally in Nigeria but also for our export.” He added.

He described the past situation in which Nigeria was the highest importer of rice as unacceptable, adding that “today we are doing very well, we are importing very little and producing rice in abundance though we still need to produce more”.

Dr. Onu stressed need to mechanize our agriculture and introduce lot technology and innovation that will make agricultural processes to be very stress-free and competitive.

“We need to train our people, boost agricultural capacity if we have enough people who have this capability to design of machines, we would be in a position to start exporting some of these machines,” he added.

Dr, Onu further disclosed that the workshop of the institute is 80% completed while the administrative block is at an advanced stage, adding that the equipment is available in Mbutu and will be installed as the building is nearing completion.

Earlier, the Director-General, the National Agency for Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Professor Muhammed Haruna, who was represented by a director in the agency, Mrs. Nonye Onyiyechi said that institute was established to boost agricultural production through mechanization.

She expressed hope that with the visit of the minister, the project would be concluded before the end of the year

https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/212968/

I am impressed with the plans for agricultural and industrial growth and development. My prayer is that may all Ihedioha's administration good and right plans be successfully implemented.

Curlieweed:
RareDiamond,

This sounds interesting. I like the focus on growing the local economy. All these beautification projects are never going to help us.

Interview: We will hold Ihedioha Accountable-Engr Charles Ugwu
by hornnews

April 29, 2019


Engr. Charles Ugwu is a renowned industrialist who hails from Amuzi in Obowo. He got into politics according to him when he saw things were not working well and felt the need to make some contributions that would salvage a bad situation in Imo state. He fought for the governorship position in the state before he became a Minister of Commerce and Industry briefly under the late President Umaru Musa Yara’dua.Ugwu was one time President, Manufacturer’s Association of Nigeria, MAN. He is one of the leading voices in the Imo Elders Advisory Council and was recently appointed a member of the Technical Transition Committee by Governor-elect, Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha. In this interview with our AFAM ECHI, he spoke glowingly of the bright future that awaits Imolites, adding that they would hold Ihedioha accountable. He insists that the Speakership position must not come from Okigwe Zone. It promises an interesting read. Enjoy the ride.

First,let me congratulate you and your party for returning to power after 12 long years of absence in the scheme of things. How do you feel about it all?

It is not an issue of returning to power. It is good for Imo to have taken over governance, and positioning somebody they deliberately chose as qualified and viable. So it is more to congratulate ndi Imo for making the right choice in the candidate they have now placed in the position to govern their state after the last 8-12 years we have seen different leaders that haven’t made a positive impact in our state. So we should congratulate Imo. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the political vehicle being used to institute a new governance in Imo state.

I can recall you are a member of the Imo State Elders Advisory Council that proposed and endorsed Emeka Ihedioha who eventually won. During the period, the group canvassed that the Charter of Equity should be allowed to operate. Can we say that Ihedioha owe his victory to this agitation by Owerri Zone that it is their turn to rule?

No. The Elders is made up of people of high repute, integrity, and honour. When Imo was distressed and challenged with finding a direction for good leadership, they stepped up. It is not them alone. There are many other people who played a part. The PDP played a strong part. Many Imo citizens who are not politicians also played a part. So I cannot claim that it is only the Elders that spoke. The Elders did a great job by standing up for truth and speaking truth to power and tried to change the bad government. That was why they put their weight, their reputation, their good names, their efforts, and their resources to ensure that a good candidate emerged to govern Imo. Imo citizens of great reputations came together and spoke out in unison to say never again. They stood in support of a good candidate and even after the election they are standing still to make sure that the governor they have chosen does the things he promised to do and ensure that Imo gets good governance. That is the role that Imo Elders is trying to play.

But it looks to some observers that the Imo Elders Advisory Council is factionalized. At the time a group endorsed Dr. Ikedi Ohakim while your own group pitched tenth with Emeka Ihedioha. What actually happened?

There is no fractionalisation, there is no division. The Imo Council of Elders came off from the grass roots of Okigwe, Orlu and Owerri Zone. They are made up of people of maturity, reputation, competence, they came together. It was when we began to make statements that all kinds of groups including the ones floated by the out-going government came on stream and claiming to be elders but the Elders Council we are talking about I can name them. They are the leaders who by their capacity, reputation and names we know. They are not dubious. We can talk of Pascal Dozie, General Ihekire (rtd), Air Commodore Ochulor (rtd), Ebere Udeagu former deputy governor, Dr. Douglas Acholonu former deputy governor, etc. They number over a hundred who came together. The other group that came was a spurious one who are the acolytes, servants, promoters, of His Excellency Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and it was short lived. As soon as they finished their assignments they dissolved into the crowd. But the Elders Council which I am talking about is a formal organization and they would continue to play a part even in the new government. They are listed in the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.

The efforts of the IEAC could be seen as interventionist agenda to stop the drifting state from hitting the rocks. People are asking why the elders slept so deep before waking up to the reality when so much damage has been to the state.

No, it is not that they were sleeping. We assumed that the democratic ethos that led to the election of Governor Rochas Okorocha would continue after he came into office. So we gave him space to run the government, to bring his own ideas to implement the things that he has promised he would do which were good on paper but he ultimately derailed. Okorocha was so overwhelmed by the level of resources available to Imo and saw that as his own empire and was willing to defend it. So the elders kept a low profile, kept the matter because he has the reins of power, he has the authority, the house of assembly. Those who failed woefully in this mismanagement and bad governance were the house of assembly who were supposed to prevail as checks and balance to the government of Imo state. They didn’t do it. When everything failed and we didn’t have recourse to him, the elders stood up to say to hell with it, this must stop, we must find a new leadership, we must produce a new government but we don’t want violence. We don’t want our state to degenerate to anarchy, so the elders of Imo came up at the time anarchy was threatening us.

You are a member of what is now referred to as the 140 wise men which is the Technical Transition Committee (TTC) set up by the governor-elect to chart a new course for the state. What should we be expecting from the government of Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha?

Emeka Ihedioha by appointing the 140 wise men gave notice that wisdom does not lie entirely with him. And he wants to draw from the wisdom, from the capacity, of all the Imo people. So he stretched his hands and drew from a whole range of people, the academia, politicians, engineers, professionals, accountants, entrepreneurs like us, he picked from a whole milieu of Imo state resource base to hear from them, to set a priority for his government. So what we are doing is to look at the most important thing, what are the priorities, what must we do to stop the haemorrhage, how can we get our government back, how can we get the government connected to the federal resource, to the international donor agencies, to the things that are happening that we lost out in the last 8 years. Imo is an abandoned state. If you go out there to Lagos and Abuja and mention Imo, people will say are you serious. We are not involved in anything. There is no federal presence, no federal establishments. What Ihedioha has done is to bring people together to cook based on those ideas, the strategies that can be implemented to uplift Imo which in his own parlance is to rebuild Imo. That is the role we are playing and we are going to come up with ideas, strategies and timeline. What we don’t have at the moment is the financial resource because usually money follows good ideas, good management. When we package our ideas, and get our thoughts and plan it well, we will find the resources. The world is awash with resources and we are going to get it to develop our state. We will hold him to account. Remember having appointed us, including myself and others, we will hold His Excellency Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha to account and we will ask him eye ball to eye ball what he has done with our plans, with our resources. We are willing to serve, we are not there for money, and we are not asking him to pay us. We are there to encourage him to get Imo back, to develop Imo. I can show you clear strategies later if you don’t mind.

We would like to know Sir what happened to your Rokana Industries that once made our state popular because industries like that are a rare find in Imo?

Rokana Industry till today is still working? It is limping that is what I would say. It is limping in the sense that the ideas, the management, the skill we represented because we stood out for excellence, we stood out for quality products, are still there but we have been affected by infrastructure. There is no power. Power has been the major problem. Second, is the way government manages the import tariff allowing smuggling and faking of our products from China in the brand names that we registered. We are not able to enforce anything on that. But Rokana is still making tooth brushes, making excellent products. There is another company, a sister company, Uzii water, in the same state being affected by the same power problem and bad roads that we could not transport our products. But generally speaking, in the whole country, industries have suffered badly because of lack of infrastructure. If you remember great names like Adebowale, Nnanna Kalu Star Paper Mills, Golden Guiness Brewery and you name them, industries that were into manufacturing got closed by deficiencies in infrastructure. This is the reason that we are praying that in this government of Ihedioha we should create an infrastructure base that would sustain a new initiative in manufacturing and processing. It can be done. Just bring the power, the market is there. Rokana is limping but it will bounce back. It is producing but not making noise any way. Uzii too will come back because the natural spring where it is sourced is still there at Obowo and we are at the point of reinvigorating it and restarting up operations.

If you check properly Imo has motley crowd of entrepreneurs like you. We remember people like Leo Stan Eke (Zinox Computers), Frank Nneji (ABC Transport), Pascal Dozie (Diamond Bank), Orange Drugs, Tony Chukwu, and many others who can hold their own any day and are doing good in other lands. How can we tap into this group to turn things around for our state?

I agree with you. Imo is endowed, blessed with people that are creative, innovators, people who could excel in every field. We are trying to ask them under the new administration of Emeka Ihedioha to bring a branch of their businesses home. That is the first step. Part of our program is to get them to write a program for the new government. Leo Stan of Zinox has been a great supporter of the incoming government and has played a wonderful role and he would still play a greater part by bringing his ICT skills into Imo. It is the same thing with Ezenna (Orange Drugs). Imo has certain advantages. When we now position infrastructure, power roads, broadband internet and other opportunities that we can have including the management of the administration or government you will find that businesses will come. By the way Imo is in the middle of eleven states in the South South and South East.

What is the implication of that?

Imo has a location advantage if you look at the map of Southern Nigeria. If you are going to Calabar or Akwa Ibom or Rivers from Lagos you have to pass through Imo. If you are coming from Enugu to the same place you will pass through Imo. There is a way you can position the state as an enclave economy where you can produce for a market of 50-56 million people for the South South and South East. It is our market. So all these guys you are talking about when they produce these goods they will go there. The welders we have on the street will be engaged the day we start working efficiently and competitively taking advantage of the market. We have the brains. What is holding us back is the infrastructure. That is why we are getting Emeka to focus on infrastructure by providing him an environment that will enable these enterprises to blossom. After all, people like Korea have no natural resources, all they have is acumen, but we have the two.

Imo people are lamenting about serious decay in every area of life. If you were to advise Ihedioha, which area do you think lies the greatest need of the state where he should start to pay attention first?

The immediate priority is to set up a government. In Imo state today we haven’t got a government. We are in total ruin. We have a one man dictator who has been running around like a colossus. We need a government in the Civil Service that can implement a great idea and the strategies that we are developing. We need to create order, enthrone good governance, and deal with the issues of security. We will tackle unemployment, not just by word of mouth but tackling it by creating jobs through investment and activities, small scale manufacturing, etc. In agriculture for example, one of the things we have is developing the Imo River Valley and grow the products that are viable within our economy. We have an opportunity for Rice. You may not believe it but we do. We have great opportunity in manufacturing; every street is clogged up with welders and fabricators. We can train them and put them in a place where they can work with power supply to meet up the skills training. We can transform their work. I know so. I can speak well on that because it is an area I know .If we give people the opportunity the furniture trade will be dominated by us, the fabrication area too, the garment trade will get a boost. What is needed is to set up a government by rebuilding some of the institutions to focus on production, agriculture, manufacturing, on small scale. There are so many things that we can do even in terms of food consumption. We complain that we have no protein because we don’t have meat. If we cannot have cattle why not poultry, what about piggery, we can transform here for that purpose. Pork meat is required all over the world. In Nigeria we cannot get enough to go round. There are areas the government working with citizens like us will produce goods and services that will enable us dominate provided that we are competitive.

What do you mean by being competitive here?

That is when we have learnt about better ways of doing things and in terms of infrastructure. And we have the market. The funding we need we can access through the so many windows the Central Bank has created, even though it may not be easy for us. We can compete with anybody and achieve excellence in what we are doing. We have high hopes that Emeka will do well moving the state forward.

Your last response reminds me of something you did. You talked about a Rice opportunity here but you set up a Rice mill at Ebonyi. What actually took your attention away from here?

No, the rice mills we have in Ebonyi and Enugu states were part of the federal projects at the time that Imo wasn’t on the map of the federal government to locate any of these industries. So when they decided to take off we participated in the bidding and the mills were now built. Since then I have studied quite deeply the viability of rice mills in Imo state and I am convinced that we have a good chance. On the Imo River we have over 10, 000 hectares.

In which areas can we find this?

Ihitte Uboma. If you follow the Imo river from Ideato, all the way from Onuimo, down to Ehime, Ihitte Uboma, go past Obowo, going through Ezinihitte down to Owerri Nta, the whole of that valley that is over 80 kilometres following that river, represents enormous opportunity for us to develop for maize, for rice and other crops. Then if you come to Ohaji Egbema and Ngor Okapala, these are in addition to the natural products of oil palm; which is what we are doing; you can appreciate the enormous potentials. We are going to bring a new industry to deal with oil palm business by creating a biomass plant that will use the whole palm trees to do something else. That is a secret; I will not tell you that one. There is so much we can use biomass plant tree to produce that will outstand you and we can be competitive. We are going to focus on this not with money from heaven but with the skills that we have, the knowledge at our disposal and with the competence and capacity we have we will bring about a major upliftment in the economy.

The rice cultivation you talked about, is it going to be done through Irrigation?

Yes. When you develop the River Valley, the government in partnership with the private sector will open the space up with the private sector. The places that are natural swamp they will clear it. We will allocate it to people. For example, I would like to be allocated land there to put a demonstration farm. When I put a demonstration farm, I want to put a rice mill, big rice mill, that can produce 120, 000 tones.

Is it per annum?

Yes you heard me very well.Yes, 120,000 tonnes a year. I will tell you why. That rice mill will be dependent on partly grown here supplemented with the one grown from Ohaji Egbema and Ngor Okpala and of course from Oguta. This rice mill will not even supply all we need in Imo state because today Imo has a deficit of 235,000 tonnes of rice. That is the rice we bring in today is over 335,000 tonnes from outside. So when we produce 120,000 tonnes we still have the need to establish more mills but we will start with one in partnership on the PPP basis (Public Private Partnership) somewhere in Ihitte Uboma and we work with them to develop that side. With that Imo can at least begin to meet its food deficit as far as rice is concerned. Yes, rice is viable. You can quote me on that. If you look at this river that goes from Ulakwo, there is nothing done there, it is fallow but it is fantastic flood plain for rice cultivation. It is just that we closed our eyes to opportunities. We have been playing around on politics but now that we have somebody who is smart, supported with our own, with the skills that we have, we are going to make a great change.

What message do you have for the people of Imo state?

Imo should have hope, strong hope. We are going to do things that will surprise people. I am praying for Emeka Ihedioha. I want Imo to develop to a point that we can make goods, products that will be Igbomade. Igbomade in Imo. I believe in it. It will be a high level of quality and mark of excellence. Everything we will produce, example furniture, we will paste on it Igbomade in Imo. The Igbos is capable, creative, and innovative and strong, why should we be shy. It is God’s gifts to us. So when we use our creativity to make unique product we say it. When pen knives were made in Japan, the Japanese said ‘Okapi that is made in Japan. Then people were saying low quality, and then they made it better. Today Japan is a leading nation in the world. What is their population, what is size of their country? If we believe, Igbomade in Imo, we are going to use it to dominate the markets in Nigeria, from our own home state not living in Kano or working there in Lagos. That is what I am waiting for before I die that the Igbomade in Imo is highly cherished and reputable.

Thanks for your time

http://hornnewsnigeria.com/2019/04/29/interview-will-hold-ihedioha-accountable-engr-charles-ugwu/

You are the liar here not me.

You claimed the 4 new universities have not been created by any Imo State law but that is not the reality as the Imo State House of Assembly have enacted the laws establishing the new universities.

What i find unpleasant is that almost all the 6 new universities established by Rochas administration are in Orlu zone these are in addition to the two new polytechnics and school of nursing all in Orlu zone.

The new universities and polytechnic names and locations are listed below:

1 Imo State University of Science and Technology, Umunna. Okigwe Zone

2 Eastern Palm University, Ogboko. Orlu Zone

3 Imo State University of Medical Sciences, Ogboko, Orlu Zone

4 Imo State University of Creative Technology, Isiaku Nkwerre. Orlu Zone

5 Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo. Orlu Zone

6 Imo Marine University, Oguta. Orlu Zone (In Progress)

1 Imo State College of Health and Management Sciences, Amaigbo. Orlu Zone

2 Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic, Orlu. Orlu Zone

3 Imo State School of Nursing, Okporo. Orlu Zone

4 Nigerian Police College of Finance and Administration, Obiohia/Ogwume. Orlu Zone

Most federal tertiary institutions are in Owerri Zone while Rochas Okorocha clannishly sited almost all the newly established state tertiary institution in Orlu Zone leaving Okigwe zone neglected unjustly.

NUC approves another 3 new universities for Imo State

By Chidimma C. Okeke | Published Date May 7, 2019

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved another three new universities for Imo State government barely three weeks after it approved University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences for the state. The newly approved institutions which bring to six the number of state universities in Imo State are University of Creative Technology, Omuma, University of Medical Sciences, Ogboko and University of Science and Technology, Onuimo. Speaking at a meeting to convey the approval to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Tuesday in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the institutions have met all the requirements necessary for their recognition. “All the requirements have been met, the documents have been presented and the laws setting up the universities passed by the State House of Assembly have also been presented. We hereby formally recognise the establishment of these universities,” the NUC boss said. Prof. Rasheed said the Commission would work out new curriculum for the new universities as most programmes the institutions will run are innovative and would require massive input of NUC. He, however, said that the certificate of approval of the new universities would be dispatched to the governor before the end of the day or before the week runs out. Speaking, Governor Okorocha said the universities were established through the instrumentality of the State House of Assembly, adding that the main aim of putting in place the new institutions was to bring development to rural areas and increase access to university education. He explained that in the past seven years the state has the highest number of students seeking university admission in the country, saying, “it is only 20 per cent of them that are admitted. This will give admission to the 80 per cent who are denied admission and are roaming the streets.” On the funding of the new universities, Okorocha said adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure issue of financial challenges are not associated with the running of the institutions. “If education remains a priority, there is enough fund to run university. We are also involving the private sector because the universities are open to public and private partnership. The project started long time ago,” he said.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nuc-approves-another-3-new-universities-for-imo-state.html

kikake:
Liar.

I never supported Rochas Okorocha for 2nd Term in 2015.

Since 2014, many of us from Orlu area who had good eyes to see Okorocha's direction and disdain for Orlu did not stop in asking for his ouster.


Just name one development project of Rochas Okorocha in Orlu zone.

Rochas don't appoint important people from Orlu zone to govt offices, except boot shiners.

NUC approves another 3 new universities for Imo State

By Chidimma C. Okeke | Published Date May 7, 2019 17:36 PM

National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved another three new universities for Imo State government barely three weeks after it approved University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences for the state. The newly approved institutions which bring to six the number of state universities in Imo State are University of Creative Technology, Omuma, University of Medical Sciences, Ogboko and University of Science and Technology, Onuimo. Speaking at a meeting to convey the approval to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Tuesday in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the institutions have met all the requirements necessary for their recognition. “All the requirements have been met, the documents have been presented and the laws setting up the universities passed by the State House of Assembly have also been presented. We hereby formally recognise the establishment of these universities,” the NUC boss said. Prof. Rasheed said the Commission would work out new curriculum for the new universities as most programmes the institutions will run are innovative and would require massive input of NUC. He, however, said that the certificate of approval of the new universities would be dispatched to the governor before the end of the day or before the week runs out. Speaking, Governor Okorocha said the universities were established through the instrumentality of the State House of Assembly, adding that the main aim of putting in place the new institutions was to bring development to rural areas and increase access to university education. He explained that in the past seven years the state has the highest number of students seeking university admission in the country, saying, “it is only 20 per cent of them that are admitted. This will give admission to the 80 per cent who are denied admission and are roaming the streets.” On the funding of the new universities, Okorocha said adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure issue of financial challenges are not associated with the running of the institutions. “If education remains a priority, there is enough fund to run university. We are also involving the private sector because the universities are open to public and private partnership. The project started long time ago,” he said

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nuc-approves-another-3-new-universities-for-imo-state.html

Interesting

Dawinlove:
Exactly what I saw on 6/10/2018
I saw shedding of blood
people unable to travel
I saw fire burning
I saw the old Nigeria as of independence and I saw the current Nigeria
Then God said, I am rescuing Nigeria
I saw a young man cleaning houses, cutting grasses, picking dirty to keep the country clean.. and that is the new Nigeria

More

Ala Imo State wu Oke Mba

More

More

Ala Imo State wu Oke mba

More

New Luxury Housing Development in Owerri, Imo State

Owerri, Imo State.

More

Orji Overhead Bridge, Owerri, Imo State.

Interesting

Thesame way all the four storey hostels in Unizik is owned by Ebonyi men.

Bunch of illiterate noise makers !!!

Funnicator:
Na Anambra men get all those four storeys around FUNAI, Ikwo?

The way Anambra men dh invest for Ebonyi.

I like am. It will definitely pay off. Lodges around that AE-FUNAI will triple in 8 years time.

They'll be smiling to the banks.

Shut up your mouth you bigot. You are part of the problems in this country.

sarrki:
Nnamdi Kanu is a very opeless mofos

So you intend to spam this thread with useless back and forth arguments with those anti Igbo m0rons untill it get to the point that those of us who visit these thread to get updates and information on growth and development in Igboland and insight into the contradictions and interplay of different ethnic actors in Nigeria and their effect on Ndi Igbo; would be discourage by YOUR UNINTELLIGENT DECISION TO ENGAGE THESE ANTI IGBO SIMPLETONS WHO ARE BENT IN LETTING US KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOTHING INSIDE THEIR COCONUT HEADS.

When several pages of this thread is littered with fake gory pictures, useless arguments, lies, deceit by you and those anti Igbo urchins; you would have succeeded in making Igbo visitors to this thread to skip your opinions/comments just as the comments of these urchins are ignored. You stand a high risk of your insightful information getting ignored/skipped or wrongly misrepresented as part of your mud fight with with these urchins. Hence, you would have succeeded in rubbishing and changing your reputation as an Igbo intelligentsia whose comment and opinions should be closely followed and taken seriously to an undisciplined and loquacious fellow whose comments are unnecessary & empty in information. Thus should be quickly skipped to other wise comments.

pazienza:
We are not. We had succeeded in bringing the agenda to replace Enugu with Ph, under the supervision of Amaechi as the transport minister to the fore.
The thread is not derailed. Many of us now know better about these topical issues. Also the impostors are also forced to show their impostor hands by being forced to support and promote anti Igbo agenda, blowing their thin cover, if any, in the process.

My brother, we have agreed severally on this thread to ignore these anti Igbo urchins. WHY DO YOU CONTINOUSLY BREACH THIS COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT BY GLORIFYING THESE MOR0NS WITH RESPONSE ?! The unwanted responses by you and hammerf have made these urchins not to relent in there anti Igbo agenda. You are indirectly promoting their quest to derail this thread. PLEASE STOP IT !!!

pazienza:
The more the merrier.
Igboland is big enough to have Up to five standard international airports, which exactly why it's an insult to tell us to accept Ikwerre-Ijaw airport.

Enugu would be our centre of unity. Our own Heathrow. It doesn't stop us from having other international airports in Alaigbo.

I'm happy you are beginning to get the message. Ikwerre-Ijaw airport had been rejected by Ndiigbo, jee gwazikwa ndi yard unu.