₦airaland Forum

Politics Today: ‘I want to industrialise Imo state’
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By CHUKS EZE on October 28, 2014 · Politics

Ken Ojiri, one of the front runners for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket in the 2015 governorship election in Imo State was upbeat as he picked the form to formally throw his heart into the ring for the primaries coming up later in November.

He has never hidden his desire to introduce creativity and dynamism into the governance of the state. He says Imo is one of the producers of graduates in the country and the least in industries making it an unviable paradox. He spoke exclusively to Daily Sun soon after picking his form.

What do you think is the greatest Challenge facing Imo State?

The major challenge with Imo State is lack of employment which is due to lack of industries which in itself is lack of planning by past administrations. I refuse to see it as a problem because when something is a problem, the solution may be far, but when it is a challenge, it requires confrontation. When you confront a challenge, it goes away, but if you fail to confront a challenge, it confronts you. The unemployment in Imo State has been confronting the state because no one has deemed it fit to confront it. While each administration tries its best within the scope of its capacity, lack of understanding of the actual need of Imo people and a master plan on the short and long term means of solving them has been a hamstring.

I strongly believe that understanding the peculiarities of our problem is the first step to solving it and using time tested strategy is the key to overcoming the challenge of unemployment and by extension, poverty in Imo state. Every area has its peculiar problem. What provides succour for someone in Lagos may not be what will give someone in Imo state joy. It is therefore important to identify those things that will add value to the lives of the people of the state, things that will prolong the citizen’s life. What will return the cultural values of the people and the pride of the people of the state? When you identify all these, it becomes easy to connect with the people.

Imo State has suffered the highest amount of urban migration in all its ramifications. This has affected not only the economy of the state, it has affected the aged who are left alone in the villages, it has affected the younger generations most of whom are born and bred outside Igbo land. They grow up in foreign environment, foreign culture and language. The implication is that Imo culture and traditions are fast fading away while Igbo language has become foreign to these children.

How would you initiate creative governance in Imo State?

This is the reason everyone who aspires to govern any state in the country must set out his or her agenda, have a study of his state and its critical needs and come close enough to the people to connect with them. If you ask me, the biggest problem of my people in Imo State is lack of employment. Most Imo people are not happy in most cities where they reside, but unfortunately, they have no choice. It is difficult to imagine a state that has almost the highest number of graduates annually without a single multinational company in the state let alone, industrial park or estate.

Is it that Imo does not have enough land for industrial estates or that it can not design an industrial estate, or that it is a taboo for industries to flourish in the state. There is no rocket science in it. Once you make the environment attractive for industrialists, they naturally come to invest. It is my desire to develop industrial estates in Imo, attract major industries that will attract ancillary industries.

I don’t want to believe that most of the graduates riding Keke cannot go into agriculture and excel if it is well packaged, or into small scale productions if well oriented. Even welders, electricians, brick layers etc. who are working hard outside the state but leaving like ants will rather come back home and work. Graduates who leave from hands to mouth because what they earn is too meager to take care of their accommodation, high cost of city life and the hassles of the city will find succor in coming closer home to work. Others who have aged parents and desolate compounds will be too glad to relocate back home. Most people who are three to five sharing a room in cities across the country have comfortable homes in their father’s compound. If given the opportunity, they would be happier working from home.

Again when industries come and businesses thrive in Imo, property values will naturally raise, tenement houses become an investment. Unfortunately, this is what our people are providing for other cities that have the foresight to develop their industrial capacities. In places like Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, Anambra etc., what they are reaping today is deliberate long term industrial plan which was sustained. Chief Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory started it but no one sustained it and unfortunately, no one has been able to study Mbakwe’s master plan for Imo state.

Let me tell, you, if I follow Mbakwe’s master plan alone even as old as it was, Imo State will never be the same again. It is time to think of Imo state as an industrial state rather than a leisure state. I don’t think Imo people are that lazy to equate them with only leisure. It’s ironical that a people whose hands power the industrial capacities of other states have only hotels and restaurants to show as their industry. Imo state must change, it is long over due. It is time to reverse the trend of urban migration to rural migration and believe me, it is possible.

Much of what the federal government is suffering today has its root on non performing governors that hold sway in the states. A state governor that collects allocation and invest it on jamboree will turn round to blame the federal government for flooding in his state. He turns round to blame the federal government for high turn over of area boys, turn criminals or graduates turn kidnappers.

When a governor uses his money to purchase votes, buys himself into office and spends the whole time in his office trying to recoup investments, you don’t really blame him.

The state radio stations are propaganda machines that turn the faces of the masses to the federal government and away from the state governors who owe them larger responsibilities untill the states become creative in their governance, until those who have vision and plan for their time in office take over the government at the state, so shall the federal government continue to bear the brunt of the ineptitude of the state governments.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=88222

Imo State is a Paradise on Earth

millionaireman:
Which university? Whose University? - The madam did not ask lie lie question - she asked de right question.

Who does not know the politics of location of tertiary institutions in Imo state? No court can grant the Ogboko university facility to a private organisation.

Truth is that if ORO leaves office without opening the university, next govt is most likely to convert it to a poultry or even a zoo. But Ogboko and neighbouring towns may not like ordour from poultry/zoo.

Try and be appreciative for once mr man.

millionaireman:
Lol. After all Steve Uzoechi's talk about Orlu transformation, it was MUM - no mention - of the govt proposed Imo-European University, the only project that could have truly transformed Orlu if opened soon. Hmm, make the next occupant of Douglas House no convert the place to a zoo, and instead, open more govt university facilities in Owerri.

I know you would look for something to complain about. I read somewhere that the construction activities in the University has reached an advanced stage.

@ MILLIONAIREMAN DID YOU READ MY ABOVE POST ? I MADE THE PART THAT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FLOOD IN ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH BOLD SO THAT YOU CAN READ IT FOR YOURSELF.

Abia State to Distribute 600,000 Cocoa Seedlings to Farmers

Oct 03, 2014Dele AlaoAgric0
Abia to distribute 600,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers

TARGET State moves to become leading cocoa producer

Abia State government has began moves to make the state a leading cocoa producer. Governor Theodore Orji, recently inaugurated the 2014 free distribution of 600,000 improved cocoa seedlings to farmers in the state. The governor, at a brief ceremony held at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia, said that the distribution of seedlings was part of government’s initiatives to reposition cocoa production in the state. “I want Abia to occupy a leading position in cocoa production in Nigeria in the next few years,’’ he said, adding that the measure was geared toward making cocoa one of the mainstay of the state’s economy.

The governor said that a monitoring team would be inaugurated to supervise the effective utilisation of the seedlings by the farmers to ensure higher productivity. Orji said that the good features of the seedlings included their early maturing and high yielding prospects. According to him, other efforts aimed at increasing agricultural production in the state include the recent N2 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility for agro-based small-scale industrialists in the state. He recalled that the 2012 CBN facility of N1 billion disbursement to farmers in the state was to encourage farmers and ensure food security. The governor said that the Liberation Farms, set up in each of the three senatorial districts of the state had helped to train farmers in modern farming techniques and gave the assurance that government would continue to train and retrain farmers to ensure value addition to their produce.

He urged the people of the state to “go back to land,” warning that although the nation’s oil wells would one day dry up, “agriculture will never dry up.” Orji urged cocoa farmers to be more committed and not to allow cocoa farming to die, given its huge prospects in the transformation of the economy of the farmer, the state and nation. On his part, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Chijioke Onwutuebe, said that the distribution of free seedlings by government started in 2012 with 350,000 seedlings.

Onwutuebe said that the number was increased to 450,000 in 2013 and urged cocoa farmers to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their fortune. Also, the Director of Agriculture in charge of the statewide development of agriculture, Mr Sam Odoemelam, said that the Ministry of Agriculture would intensify efforts to increase the state’s capacity in cocoa production. Odoemelam listed the five major cocoa producing local government areas of the state as Bende, Ikwuano, Arochukwu, Umuahia South and Ohafia.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/abia-to-distribute-600000-cocoa-seedlings-to-farmers/

Anambra to Expand Agric Investment Base

Oct 17, 2014Our CorrespondentAgric0

TASK Anambra takes proactive steps to boost investments in agric sector

The Anambra State government is keen on expanding its agricultural investment base. To this end, it has put in place innovative incentive packages that will enhance the profitability of agro-investments sited in the state. Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Nnamdi Mekoh, disclosed this when the organisers of Agra Innovate Nigeria Conference and Exhibition paid a courtesy call on Anambra State officials in Awka, the state capital, recently.

The commissioner said that Anambra, under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano, had taken steps to ensure a conducive environment for agribusinesses to thrive. “Our agricultural policies are formulated with the investor in mind and there is no question that this sector is a key focal area for the Obiano administration,” Mekoh said. He commended the organisers for considering Anambra as one of the key sub-national destinations in the build-up to the main event in November.

On his part, Business Development Director of Afrocet Nigeria, Mr George Pearson, said that the event, which would take place between November 18 and 20, 2014, comes on the heels of a string of notable reforms that have placed Nigerian agriculture in good stead to become a global player in food production. Chief Executive Officer of AgroNigeria, Lead Media Advisor to the event, Richard- Mark Mbaram, said that Agra Innovate Nigeria is a clear recognition on the part of global agro-investors of Nigeria’s rising status in agricultural productivity. He said: “This event marks a paradigm shift in the relationship between Nigerian agricultural economy and foreign investors.

Whereas utilisait was Nigerians who would travel to host events abroad to woo investors, now the reverse is the case owing to the unparalleled successes which the present administration has recorded in agricultural transformation.” Further reinforcing the stance of the Anambra State government, Managing Director of the newly-inaugurated Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Joe Billy Ekwunife, expressed the interest of the agency in partnering with the project.

“It is particularly interesting that over 40 globally acclaimed agribusiness brands have signed up to participate in the event,” he said. Also in attendance at the meeting were critical members of the Anambra State Economic Management Team, including Mark Okoye, Senior Special Assistant on Investment to the state governor, as well as Mike Ogbuekwe, the governor’s SSA on Agriculture. It will be recalled that the state governor had only recently returned from a courtesy call on the country’s agriculture minister as part of his efforts geared towards positioning the state as a major agro-economic player in the country.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/anambra-to-expand-agric-investment-base/

Urbanising Orlu Through Infrastructural Development

Jul 25, 2014STEVE UZOECHIFeatures0
Urbanising Orlu through infrastructural development

With the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and provision of other social amenities, Imo State Government is gradually changing the face of Orlu, reports STEVE UZOECHI

When Owelle Rochas Okorocha assumed office as Imo State governor on May 29, 2011, expectations were high. He had a plethora of challenges to contend with. It was not unexpected. There was dearth of functional infrastructural facilities and basic amenities. On the political plane, graft had become a pastime.

The challenges where numerous – a dejected populace in dire need of direction; an ailing public service staffed by an ill-motivated workforce; a crumbling educational system without the required productive capacities to contribute to the development of the state; a lethargic health sector that left the infirm at the mercy of unequipped health facilities; a regime of joblessness that fostered a measure of hopelessness, helplessness and desperation in the psyche of the youth; insecurity spurred by widespread disenchantment within a section of the populace against the system and its operators.

Three years down the line, record shows that Okorocha has made deliberate efforts to keep fate with the terms of his mandate and correct several systemic incongruities that had bedevilled the state since its creation.

It is believed in many quarters that one of the governor’s most important achievements is his passionate infrastructural drive across the three geopolitical zones of the state. He has continued to push towards making Orlu and Okigwe modern cities thereby taking attention away from the state capital and enhancing the socio-economic opportunities derivable in the geopolitical zones outside Owerri, the state capital.

His resolve to turn Orlu into a modern city that can compete with several other cities in the South-East has shown the governor’s immense capacity for infrastructural development.

The state government had earlier disclosed that N25 billion would be spent on the on-going transformation of Orlu. Before the current transformation of Orlu, Okorocha had in his 2012 State of the Imo Address, noted that, “the potentials of the state were shut in, owing to the absence of an extensive network of roads to support the process of transformation”.

According to him, the cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe have continued to reel under the neglect of roads within these towns thus making vehicular movement very inconvenient to motorists.

“Although, remarkable efforts have been made since this administration came on board to repair the roads and open up new ones, it is expected that this year (2012), over 400 kilometres of roads will be constructed in the state,” he promised then. True to his word, Orlu city has benefited immensely in the areas of infrastructural development.

When coming into the city from Owerri, one is welcomed by giant gates announcing the city. Okorocha started the transformation of Orlu with the control of the popular Umuna erosion site in Umusasa which had consumed dozens of houses and sacked many families from their ancestral homes. It is instructive to note that St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Umuna was on the verge of giving in to the erosion when Okorocha intervened.

This site, it was learnt, was abandoned over the years despite efforts to attract Federal Government attention to the erosion menace. In addition to this, the perennial Mgbee Erosion site on Ideato Road has been controlled and recovered with a dual carriageway linking Ideato and Orlu. To an extent, Okorocha has established quite a solid infrastructural presence in the Orlu area of the state.

His achievements in the area include road projects in the city – completion of the inner city roads comprising eight roads, complete with covered drainages; walkways and street lights.

The most important aspect of these roads is the extension to dual carriageway of some inner roads, including the Ideato-Orlu- Owerri Road which is about 75 per cent completed and the old Orlu-Owerri Road, with street lights. This has greatly decongested the traffic in the town.

Efforts to develop the city include the construction of the Orlu Shopping Mall, repositioning of the old Onitsha Park and Orlu ultra-modern central motor parks; construction of Children’s Amusement Park, and Electronic Market in Okporo, Orlu and the Building Materials Market in Umuowa as well as the frequent cleaning of the Orlu city.

To further ensure free flow of traffic, the administration designated 15 bus stops within the city. There are also roundabouts beautified with modern water fountains at Banana Junction, and those on Amaigbo Road which help to control overspeeding and check avoidable accidents.

There is an ongoing construction of a new stadium on the new Owerri Road as well as Prince Hotel to enhance the aesthetics of the town.

Aware that the presence of tertiary institution helps to boost economic development of such cities, the government has also established College of Nursing in Orlu.

The institution situated in the former Housing Estate, Okporo and Owerre Ebeiri will commence formal academic activities by September. It is the first College of Nursing in country as others are schools or departments of nursing.

Before this, the government had upgraded the Imo State Technological Skills Acquisition Institute (TESAI), Orlu, to become a campus of the Imo State Polytechnic which had since begun academic activities. Similarly, the once abandoned Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) has been put to good use to serve the academic and health needs of the people. All these are happening simultaneously in Owerri, Okigwe and various local government areas.

An Orlu resident, Hon. Dennis Nna, who spoke with New Telegraph, commended the administration for taking a bold step towards transforming the once neglected town.

He said: “When the governor embarked on the demolition of structures to build the new city of Orlu, we all kicked at the initiative. We didn’t know it will take this shape, the work is not completely done yet but Orlu is turning out better.” A trader in Orlu, Chidi Ibe, said the transformation of Orlu had shown that the city had the capacity to assume the capital status of a new state, if created.

However, some other residents urged the government to attend to the Ihiala-Orlu-Nkwerre- Anara Road to prevent further accidents and unnecessary deaths. According to them, most of the commuters from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states as well as Umuahia now ply the Orlu Road to Onitsha and Lagos.

“The kind of vehicular traffic we witness on this road makes it expedient for the Federal Government to extend it to a dual carriageway,” one of them said. Commenting on the infrastructural development in the state, the Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, described it as returning critical sectors of democratic governance to the original owners – the people.

Uwajumogu, who spoke with journalists in Owerri, noted that the state legislature was part of the success story and identified the enactment of people-oriented laws by the Assembly as a strong support to the government’s massive provision of social amenities like the construction and rehabilitation of rural and urban roads, construction of 27 state-of-the art General Hospitals in all the council areas; construction of two detached one-storey school blocks in all the electoral wards.

He added that the introduction of the Community Government Council (CGC) had brought governance closer to the people and ensured infrastructural development in rural communities.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/urbanising-orlu-through-infrastructural-development/

Urbanising Orlu Through Infrastructural Development

Jul 25, 2014STEVE UZOECHIFeatures0
Urbanising Orlu through infrastructural development

With the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and provision of other social amenities, Imo State Government is gradually changing the face of Orlu, reports STEVE UZOECHI

When Owelle Rochas Okorocha assumed office as Imo State governor on May 29, 2011, expectations were high. He had a plethora of challenges to contend with. It was not unexpected. There was dearth of functional infrastructural facilities and basic amenities. On the political plane, graft had become a pastime.

The challenges where numerous – a dejected populace in dire need of direction; an ailing public service staffed by an ill-motivated workforce; a crumbling educational system without the required productive capacities to contribute to the development of the state; a lethargic health sector that left the infirm at the mercy of unequipped health facilities; a regime of joblessness that fostered a measure of hopelessness, helplessness and desperation in the psyche of the youth; insecurity spurred by widespread disenchantment within a section of the populace against the system and its operators.

Three years down the line, record shows that Okorocha has made deliberate efforts to keep fate with the terms of his mandate and correct several systemic incongruities that had bedevilled the state since its creation.

It is believed in many quarters that one of the governor’s most important achievements is his passionate infrastructural drive across the three geopolitical zones of the state. He has continued to push towards making Orlu and Okigwe modern cities thereby taking attention away from the state capital and enhancing the socio-economic opportunities derivable in the geopolitical zones outside Owerri, the state capital.

His resolve to turn Orlu into a modern city that can compete with several other cities in the South-East has shown the governor’s immense capacity for infrastructural development.

The state government had earlier disclosed that N25 billion would be spent on the on-going transformation of Orlu. Before the current transformation of Orlu, Okorocha had in his 2012 State of the Imo Address, noted that, “the potentials of the state were shut in, owing to the absence of an extensive network of roads to support the process of transformation”.

According to him, the cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe have continued to reel under the neglect of roads within these towns thus making vehicular movement very inconvenient to motorists.

“Although, remarkable efforts have been made since this administration came on board to repair the roads and open up new ones, it is expected that this year (2012), over 400 kilometres of roads will be constructed in the state,” he promised then. True to his word, Orlu city has benefited immensely in the areas of infrastructural development.

When coming into the city from Owerri, one is welcomed by giant gates announcing the city. Okorocha started the transformation of Orlu with the control of the popular Umuna erosion site in Umusasa which had consumed dozens of houses and sacked many families from their ancestral homes. It is instructive to note that St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Umuna was on the verge of giving in to the erosion when Okorocha intervened.

This site, it was learnt, was abandoned over the years despite efforts to attract Federal Government attention to the erosion menace. In addition to this, the perennial Mgbee Erosion site on Ideato Road has been controlled and recovered with a dual carriageway linking Ideato and Orlu. To an extent, Okorocha has established quite a solid infrastructural presence in the Orlu area of the state.

His achievements in the area include road projects in the city – completion of the inner city roads comprising eight roads, complete with covered drainages; walkways and street lights.

The most important aspect of these roads is the extension to dual carriageway of some inner roads, including the Ideato-Orlu- Owerri Road which is about 75 per cent completed and the old Orlu-Owerri Road, with street lights. This has greatly decongested the traffic in the town.

Efforts to develop the city include the construction of the Orlu Shopping Mall, repositioning of the old Onitsha Park and Orlu ultra-modern central motor parks; construction of Children’s Amusement Park, and Electronic Market in Okporo, Orlu and the Building Materials Market in Umuowa as well as the frequent cleaning of the Orlu city.

To further ensure free flow of traffic, the administration designated 15 bus stops within the city. There are also roundabouts beautified with modern water fountains at Banana Junction, and those on Amaigbo Road which help to control overspeeding and check avoidable accidents.

There is an ongoing construction of a new stadium on the new Owerri Road as well as Prince Hotel to enhance the aesthetics of the town.

Aware that the presence of tertiary institution helps to boost economic development of such cities, the government has also established College of Nursing in Orlu.

The institution situated in the former Housing Estate, Okporo and Owerre Ebeiri will commence formal academic activities by September. It is the first College of Nursing in country as others are schools or departments of nursing.

Before this, the government had upgraded the Imo State Technological Skills Acquisition Institute (TESAI), Orlu, to become a campus of the Imo State Polytechnic which had since begun academic activities. Similarly, the once abandoned Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) has been put to good use to serve the academic and health needs of the people. All these are happening simultaneously in Owerri, Okigwe and various local government areas.

An Orlu resident, Hon. Dennis Nna, who spoke with New Telegraph, commended the administration for taking a bold step towards transforming the once neglected town.

He said: “When the governor embarked on the demolition of structures to build the new city of Orlu, we all kicked at the initiative. We didn’t know it will take this shape, the work is not completely done yet but Orlu is turning out better.” A trader in Orlu, Chidi Ibe, said the transformation of Orlu had shown that the city had the capacity to assume the capital status of a new state, if created.

However, some other residents urged the government to attend to the Ihiala-Orlu-Nkwerre- Anara Road to prevent further accidents and unnecessary deaths. According to them, most of the commuters from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states as well as Umuahia now ply the Orlu Road to Onitsha and Lagos.

“The kind of vehicular traffic we witness on this road makes it expedient for the Federal Government to extend it to a dual carriageway,” one of them said. Commenting on the infrastructural development in the state, the Speaker, Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, described it as returning critical sectors of democratic governance to the original owners – the people.

Uwajumogu, who spoke with journalists in Owerri, noted that the state legislature was part of the success story and identified the enactment of people-oriented laws by the Assembly as a strong support to the government’s massive provision of social amenities like the construction and rehabilitation of rural and urban roads, construction of 27 state-of-theart General Hospitals in all the council areas; construction of two detached one-storey school blocks in all the electoral wards.

He added that the introduction of the Community Government Council (CGC) had brought governance closer to the people and ensured infrastructural development in rural communities.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/urbanising-orlu-through-infrastructural-development/

Oguta does not look rural. Oguta is a Town

abagoro:
You should stop the lies my friend. Imo State has the best rural roads today even though a lot is left undone.

This is Oguta

https://s26.postimg.org/g2du6ncm1/oguta27.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/d0dv57kpl/oguta1.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/dsgj4eowp/oguta11.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/ssdh5zv6h/oguta13.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/4d594xw9l/oguta5.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/6vqy5mhzt/oguta9.jpg

https://s26.postimg.org/gcgrc91uh/oguta6.jpg

Industrialisation, Only Way for Sustainable Development – Imo Commissioner

The Imo government said on Monday that industrialisation remained the only avenue for a sustainable economic growth.

The state’s Commissioner for Informal Sector, Mrs Ugochi Okoro, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Owerri.

Okoro said that sustainable economic growth would only be possible through new investments in manufacturing.

According to her, the state government has provided leadership by building industries in some local government areas.

Okoro said the international market built by the state government in Obowo Local Government Area had boosted development in the area.

She said the state government would re-open the Avutu Poultry, the shoe industry and other industries established by previous governments.

Okoro said the government had created the enabling environment for investors to harness and maximise profit in Imo.

“This government has created a level playing ground for everybody to excel. The issue of insecurity like kidnapping and armed robbery has become a thing of the past in Imo.

“We want people to come and invest in this state because we have all it takes to protect them and their investments,” she said.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2014/05/industrialisation-way-sustainable-development-imo-commissioner/

Onyegecha:
Actually, there is no part of Imo state that is free from death traps called roads. I just mentioned a few. I even forgot the shell camp road right beside the government house. A death trap it is! I went to the village somewhere in Mbieri last weekend and realized that INDEED, Imo has gone to the dogs. Mbaitoli, Ikeduru, Ngor Okpalla, Onuimo Arondizuogu, among many others do not know that there is a government in Imo state. Unfortunately, even Owerri, the seat of power is deteriorating very fast in spite of all the gbalu gbalu going on in the name of governance. PLEASE FIND YOURSELF SOMETHING BETTER TO DO BECAUSE ROCHAS IS BAD MARKET and we have had enough of him and his clueless team.

IT IS PDP PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT SLOWED DOWN PROGRESS IN IMO STATE. HAD OHAKIM PERFORMED AS ROCHAS HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DEFEATED IN THE ELECTION. IMO STATE HAVE NOT AND WILL NEVER GO TO THE DOGS !!!

asha80:
asaba's own is missing...wonder what created the jump in traffic in owerr since the nearby airports were all working at the time of these data.

ASABA IS NOT AMONG THE TOP 5 !!! IMO STATE AIRPORT TAKES THE LEAD ALONG WITH THREE OTHERS

Calabar, Ilorin, Maiduguri airports record zero passengers in Q1, says NBS as Owerri Becomes 4th Busiest Airport in Nigeria After Lagos, Abuja and PH
0
By ISAAC ANUMIHE, ABUJA on October 24, 2014 · Business

Against the backdrop of the growing interest by state governments to build new airports despite not being economically viable, the National Bureau of Statics (NBS) has revealed that about seven international airports in Nigeria have recorded no passengers at all in the first quarter of 2014 while Lagos and Abuja airports recorded highest.

The airports with zero patronage include International airports in Calabar, Ilorin, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Minna and Katsina.

However, a total of 3,416,977 passengers travelled using Nigerian airports in the first quarter of 2014. Out of this number, 2,352,224 or 68.84 per cent of them travelled locally, whereas 1,064,753 or 31.16 per cent travelled overseas.

Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, was rated the busiest airport in the country with 1,683,375 passengers or 49.27 per cent followed by Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 907,989 passengers, or 26.57 per cent.

According to the NBS report, this was very similar to the share of 68.81 per cent observed for domestic passenger traffic on average in 2013.

“The above ranking is observed for both domestic and foreign bound passengers too. For domestic flights, Murtala Muhammed Airport had 898,896 passengers or 38.21 per cent of the total and Abuja had 701,249 passengers or 29.81 per cent of the total. Port Harcourt had a significant number of 274,186 passengers or 11.66 per cent of all passenger traffic, while Owerri Airport in Imo State had 75,356 passengers or 3.20 per cent of the total.

International passenger traffic is even more dominated by Lagos, with 784,479 passengers or 73.68 per cent of all overseas bound passengers passing through this airport. Abuja still ranks second, although with a lesser number of 205,740 passengers or 19.42 per cent of the total. Only Kano and Port Harcourt international airports had portions of the total of over 1 per cent, with 37,261 passengers or 3.50 per cent of the total flying through Kano and Port Harcourt,” the report said.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=87651

Calabar, Ilorin, Maiduguri airports record zero passengers in Q1, says NBS as Owerri Becomes 4th Busiest Airport After Lagos, Abuja and PH
0
By ISAAC ANUMIHE, ABUJA on October 24, 2014 · Business

Against the backdrop of the growing interest by state governments to build new airports despite not being economically viable, the National Bureau of Statics (NBS) has revealed that about seven international airports in Nigeria have recorded no passengers at all in the first quarter of 2014 while Lagos and Abuja airports recorded highest.

The airports with zero patronage include International airports in Calabar, Ilorin, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Minna and Katsina.

However, a total of 3,416,977 passengers travelled using Nigerian airports in the first quarter of 2014. Out of this number, 2,352,224 or 68.84 per cent of them travelled locally, whereas 1,064,753 or 31.16 per cent travelled overseas.

Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, was rated the busiest airport in the country with 1,683,375 passengers or 49.27 per cent followed by Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 907,989 passengers, or 26.57 per cent.

According to the NBS report, this was very similar to the share of 68.81 per cent observed for domestic passenger traffic on average in 2013.

“The above ranking is observed for both domestic and foreign bound passengers too. For domestic flights, Murtala Muhammed Airport had 898,896 passengers or 38.21 per cent of the total and Abuja had 701,249 passengers or 29.81 per cent of the total. Port Harcourt had a significant number of 274,186 passengers or 11.66 per cent of all passenger traffic, while Owerri Airport in Imo State had 75,356 passengers or 3.20 per cent of the total.

International passenger traffic is even more dominated by Lagos, with 784,479 passengers or 73.68 per cent of all overseas bound passengers passing through this airport. Abuja still ranks second, although with a lesser number of 205,740 passengers or 19.42 per cent of the total. Only Kano and Port Harcourt international airports had portions of the total of over 1 per cent, with 37,261 passengers or 3.50 per cent of the total flying through Kano and Port Harcourt,” the report said.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=87651

Abagworro, please show us more pictures.

berem:
So all these people wants to contest for Imo state governorship election under PDP? Choi!
I hope the era of assasinations will not come back in owerri.

I pray it doesn't come.

Sale of forms: PDP to generate over N400m from Imo guber aspirants
October 19, 2014 | Filed under: main story,News & Features,Politics | Author: BEN EGUZOZIE
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The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is set to rake-in more than N400 million from gubernatorial aspirants in Imo State, where at least 26 aspirants have lined up to contest for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s seat in the 2015 general elections.

The party, which introduced big-money politics into the country’s electioneering since it gained prominence in 1999, through its usually exorbitant fees for nomination forms, would receive about N371.8 million from sale of such forms from the Imo gubernatorial aspirants.

The party, in its electioneering timetable released recently, announced that each governorship aspirant would pay N10 million for the nomination form and an additional N1 million for expression-of-interest.

Candidates seeking election into the Senate are to pay N4 million and N400,000 for nomination form and expression-of-interest, respectively, while each aspirant for the House of Representatives would pay N2.4 million for both forms. Aspirants for the state’s House of Assembly would pay a total of N1.2 million.

Additionally, the party asks each of the aspirants on its platform to pay 15 percent of the total amount to the party’s zonal offices and another 15 percent to the state offices.

Investigation by BD SUNDAY indicate that for each of the 26 governorship aspirants in Imo, the PDP would make N11 million for the nomination and expression-of-interest forms alone; another N1.65 million (being 15 percent of total forms money) to the zonal office and a similar thing (N1.65 million) for the state office. This brings the total to N12.65 million by each gubernatorial aspirant.

Imo PDP governorship aspirants include Ifeanyi Araraume (former senator and governorship aspirant); Emeka Ihedioha (currently the deputy speaker, House of Representatives); Ikedi Ohakim (the immediate past governor, 2007 – 2011); Martin Agbaso (former APGA leader in Imo); Julius Kpaduwa, Marcel Anyanwu; Ifeyinwa Okafor; Ike C. Ibe; Obi Adim; Chris Brown; Bethel Amadi (currently the president of the African Parliament); Humphrey Anumudu (long standing aspirant); Ken Njemanze (former state attorney-general and commissioner for justice); Jerry Chukwu (business mogul and chairman of Germaine Auto Centre, Lekki); Chuka Odom; Emma Ojinere; Charles Onyeagbako; Bright Nwanne; Ken Ojiri; Bethel Nzimako; Charles Onuoha; Charles Amanze; Chijioke Nwosu and Clara Igolo Njoku

Meanwhile, further investigations show that the PDP would make well in excess of N300 million additionally from aspirants to the Senate, House of Reps and the State’s House of Assembly, where over 100 people have lined up to contest.

The streets in Owerri and other major towns are already adorning posters and billboards of aspirants with divers messages.

BEN EGUZOZIE

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/10/sale-of-forms-pdp-to-generate-over-n400m-from-imo-guber-aspirants/#.VEk6jskjIdU

3dankey:
@ Buddahmonk



I am nt a militant and do nt work with tourism. I am just a concerned citizen
of Anambra state.

Schematics,I like the plans of Evaristus Uba (commissioner for Environment),but pls help me and tell him if you know him personally that the whole landscape of Anambra State need to be changed.

If Anambra can mix Industrialization with tourism together, that will place us above any other state in Nigeria. Look @ calabar now as the home of Tourism in Nigeria and lagos as the home of Industries in Nigeria for now. Let's imagine that you have a state that have the both in abundance.

Onitsha mall was recently advertised to prospective investors in Lagos (I read it in 1 of d tabloids
),one major concern that was raised by the investors is the level of security in Onitsha. The government officials have to convince them that Onitsha is now safe,just imagine the number of investors that this criminals have chased away from Anambra.

Now that we are getting it right in all sectors, please let us maintain it and put more effort to make Anambra the envy of all.

IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO MAKE ANAMBRA STATE THE ENVY OF ALL. YOU GUYS SHOULD TRY TO MAKE ANAMBRA THE ADMIRATION OF ALL.

xtianh:
This motor dosnt look any way abandoned. Hope u did not forget your sight at home

I don't care what that mischievous troll say on this thread because he is a liar. Your comment is funny !!!

eaglechild:
The bolded is a sick joke.

WHY IS IT A JOKE ? IS BECAUSE IT IS NOT ENUGU ?

Obiano moves to tackle power challenges, inaugurates state power and building lab committees

By News Express on 22/07/2014

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Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has inaugurated the State Power and Electricity Committee. This is in furtherance of his promise at inauguration on March 17 to work aggressively to address the challenges of power supply in the three industrial hubs of Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka so as to generate enough electricity to power the entrepreneurial dreams of the people.

The seven-man committee inaugurated over the weekend at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia is chaired by the leader of Distributing Power Business of General Electric Company for the Sub-Sahara Africa, Mr. Chike Okonkwo. Other members of the committee are Alex Amakom, Joe Ndiagwalukwe, the Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chief Chinedu Emeka, Mr. Yeye Adejegba, Obiora Nwizu, and Mr. Kingsley Aja.

Speaking at the brief ceremony, Governor Obiano charged the committee among others things, “to provide an accurate estimate of current power supply, consumption and projected demand in the state across various consumer groups and recommend suitable power generation and supply solution, taking into consideration, Anambra State’s climate, environment, landscape, and scale of development.”

He told the team to recommend short and medium-term implementation solution to achieve 100 percent power generation and supply across to industrial clusters and commercial markets in the State within nine months, and to liaise with Enugu Distribution Company to achieve ensure enough power generation and supply across to all urban residential centres.

Furthermore, Obiano enjoined the team to recommend potential investors and partners who shall implement the set objectives under Build-Operate-and Transfer (BOT) basis as well as develop a comprehensive understanding of the Nigerian Gas Master Plan, particularly as it relates to the state and recommend suitable and strategic locations to site new industrial parks, clusters and economic free trade zones in the state. The governor also directed the Committee to power street lights in Onitsha and Awka within 18 months, and ensure regular lighting across four major roads in Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka within six months.

Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman, Mr. Okonkwo, thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve. He noted that improved power supply is imperative for improved revenue generation. Okonkwo assured that the team would put in their best to meet the expectations of the government and the people. The committee would serve for 18 months in the first instance which is renewable subject to satisfactory performance and approval of the governor.

In the same vein, Governor Obiano inaugurated the Technical Committee on the State Building Materials Testing Laboratory with Mr. Hypolite Onyekwena as Chairman and Mr. B.O. Okafor as Secretary.

Speaking while inaugurating the 9-man committee, Obiano said the team’s terms of reference include to advise the state government on national and state policies on standard, specification and quality control on building and civil engineering materials, and designate, establish and approve standards in respect of building and construction materials as well as provide necessary measures for quality control in conformity with Standards Organization of Nigeria Act.

He also charged them to determine the overall policy of the laboratory with particular reference to financial, operational and administrative programme of the laboratory and the Committee and its execution, and enjoined them to also comply with directives from the Commissioner for Works on its various functions. Obiano urged them to carry out their assignment diligently to assist government to combat the challenges of incessant building collapse in the best interest of the state and country.

In a vote of thanks, the chairman of the committee, Dr. Onyekwere, assured that the members team would use their wealth of experience to deliver on their mandate.

The committee will serve for a period of two years in the first instance which is renewable subject to satisfactory performance and approval of the governor.

http://newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=6736&title=Obiano-moves-to-tackle-power-challenges,-inaugurates-state-power-and-building-lab-committees

Ebonyi State at the Dawn of Infrastructural Transformation
Posted on Monday, 16 June 2014, 12:05 am by The City Reporters in COLUMN with 0 Comments

By Jeff Amechi Agbodo
Gov Martin Elechi

Gov Martin Elechi

Ebonyi is one of the new generations of states which came into existence in October1, 1996. The State is generally well known for its agricultural and solid mineral endowments. Over the years, the famous Abakaliki rice has become an emblem of identity of the area following the commercial cultivation of local rice there which is in great demand all over the country. Ebonyi State took its name from the Ebonyi River which traverses the entire state like a troubadour.

Although Ebonyi State prides itself as “the salt of the nation”, time was, when many visitors to the state chose to call it “the dust of the nation” owing to the copious haze of dust which trails any movement through the bad roads across the state. Incidentally, bad roads were only a small part of the development challenges which confronted Ebonyi state at its creation. Like many other states in the country, Ebonyi state continues to grapple with the challenges of education, healthcare and water delivery and rural electrification among others.

Remarkably, 17 years after its creation, the State has greatly changed for the better. In particular, the last 7 years has witnessed a new burst of energy and activity especially in the area of infrastructural transformation of the agrarian state. The subsisting infrastructural rebirth of the state is the product of Governor Martin Elechi’s effort to match his words with action. It would be recalled that in his inaugural address to Ebonyi people in May 29, 2007 following his swearing-in, Governor Elechi had outlined a pragmatic development blueprint for the State anchored on infrastructural development and attitudinal change. After 7 years in the saddle, the verdict of the people is that the state government has kept faith with its promises with the following sectors in view.

ROADS AND BRIDGES:

If there is one sector where the government has made the greatest impact in the last 7 years, it is probably in the area of construction of roads and bridges. Following a comprehensive and ambitious programme of action, the Ebonyi landscape was virtually turned into a theater of construction with the construction of an initial 19 bridges and 164km access roads. The scope of the project, codenamed Ebonyi Unity bridges and access was later expanded to 36 bridges, and about 200 kilometer-access roads connecting all the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. The challenge of constructing roads and bridges in Ebonyi State is heightened by the topography of the state interspersed with undulating hills and valleys, crisscrossed by the Ebonyi River which traverses all parts of the state.

A remarkable feature of the infrastructural development drive of the state is that in many places, the construction efforts actually represent the very first time in history in which the people of those areas witnessed alphalted roads and concrete bridges since the world began.

Another significant feature of the infrastructural drive is that the state government is not limiting itself to the usual demarcation of duties in terms of state and federal roads. It is for this reason that the state government took the responsibility of constructing the 42 kilometer Abakaliki-Oferekpe road with 6 bridges. The state had undertaken the dualization of part of Abakaliki-Afikpo road and Abakaliki-Enugu expressway which recently extended to the gate of the state university which are federal roads.

Today, to the joy of the project communities and other road users, such roads as the Okposi-Uburu-Nkerefi road, the Onicha Igboeze internal roads, the Amagu-Nwezenyi road, the Abakaliki Urban roads and many others have been completed and in use. The bridges at Ezzama, Idembia, Noyo, Onuebonyi Echara, Agba, Akaeze, Unwana and Ukaba along with their access roads have been completed to mention only a few.

According to Governor Martin Elechi, “the emphasis on roads and bridges is borne out of the recognition that it is the primary condition upon which the development of other sectors depends”. There is no doubt that with the on-going infrastructural transformation of the state, Ebonyi is on the threshold of a new socio-economic era.

INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE:

[b]One of the most outstanding feats of Ebonyi State Government in the last 7 years is the recovery of 948.7 hectares of former army land in Abakaliki capital city. Through a land exchange deal with the Nigerian Army, the state government acquired a new geographical space for the development of a modern satellite town known as the Ocho Udo city. The development of this new city is already in progress with the construction of an ultra- modern secretariat complex of 11 blocks of 4 storeys each. This gigantic project was awarded to a foreign construction firm Marlum Nigeria Ltd which has been completed awaiting furnishing. Also in progress at the Ocho Udo city, is an international market covering a land space of 54 hectares with 5,600 lock up stores. It is expected that when the project is completed which is currently at 90 percent completion, the old Abakpa main market will be relocated to this new facility to decongest the Abakaliki city centre.

Another vital institutional infrastructure undertaken by the Elechi’s administration is the construction of an ultra-modern Staff Development Centre in Abakaliki. The project is designed to take care of the training needs of all categories of the state workforce to enhance their capacity for optimum productivity; the centre had trained at least 4,000 workers so far while the training is ongoing in batches. The project which has been completed at the cost of N255 million and equipped with furniture, gadgets and multi-media appliances worth N200 million.

Furthermore, the state government also constructed a new Deputy-Governor’s lodge and new Chief Judge’s quarters in Abakaliki.[/b]

EDUCATION:

Upon its creation in October 1996, Ebonyi state was acknowledged as the only educationally disadvantaged state in the South-East geopolitical zone. Aware of the importance of education as a driver of development, successive administrations in the state have placed education at the commanding height of their priorities. The state government’s education drive received a major boost under the civilian administration of the former Governor Dr. Sam Egwu following the introduction of the free and compulsory primary and secondary education initiative.

Under the incumbent administration of Chief Martin Elechi, the free education scheme has been sustained in addition to the introduction of the return to boarding school programme. Under this initiative, 27 secondary schools were selected for the pilot scheme and were provided with academic infrastructure and requisite boarding facilities at the cost of over N800 million. These 27 pilot schools, spread in the 13 local Government Areas of the state, are further complemented with 3 technical schools including building of the Girls Technical School, Agba and vocational colleges located at the 3 senatorial zones of the State.

In addition to the extension of bursary awards to disabled students from the state, the government is also shouldering the sponsorship of undergraduate and postgraduate students in various foreign universities. Apart from the primary and secondary levels of education, tertiary education has also received serious attention from the state government. In this regard, the government has sustained the funding of Ebonyi State University and the state college of Education Ikwo. This has accounted for the smooth running and infrastructural development of these institutions. The state government provided 6 luxury buses to the state university to ease the student’s transportation problem. Also there is ongoing construction of pilot model hostels for both male and female students as well as the provision of faculty buildings and the security fencing and transmission of water into the campus at Ezzangbo in readiness of single campus system.

WATER AND HEALTHCARE DELIVERY:

In times past, Ebonyi State used to be associated with guinea worm and other water borne diseases. Such state of affairs has changed with improvements in hygienic water supply to the people through the provision of hand pumps and boreholes in the rural areas. However, upon his assumption of office, Governor Elechi adopted a holistic approach to evolve a long term solution to the problem of water supply. In this regard, the administration embarked on the rehabilitation of the existing Ezilo water scheme at a contract sum of N788.4 million.

The administration also initiated the establishment of additional 2 gigantic water schemes. These are the Ukawu water scheme awarded to an Israeli water Engineering firm and the Oferekpe water scheme awarded to another Isreali water Engineering firm. Each of these water schemes is designed to produce 100 million cubic litres of water per day and will be reticulated to all parts of the state to put a permanent stop to the problem of pipe borne water supply. The governor had said that the Oferekpe water reticulations to various local government areas and communities would be completed by his administration but will ensure that the water will be used in Abakaliki before his exit. While these new water schemes are on course, the state government is also maintaining existing water installations such as the old Abakaliki water-works and the Ogberehi and Unwana water schemes.

In the health sector, the Elechi administration has, in the last 7 years, demonstrated a keen understanding of the linkage between health and development. In pursuit of its policy of public-private partnership, the government initiated the programme of extending financial grants to selected non-governmental mission hospitals in the state. So far, the sum of N1.92billion has been disbursed to 6 of such mission hospitals viz: Mater Mesericordiae Hospital Afikpo, the Presbyterian Joint Hospital Uburu, Mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki, Sudan United Mission Hospital Izzi, St. Vincent Hospital Ndubia and Rural Improvement Hospital, Ikwo. Interestingly, the State Government’s stimulus package to these hospitals has breathed a new lease of life into the institutions whose operations were previously constrained by a combination of obsolete equipment and the dearth of skilled manpower.

These programmes are complemented by the efforts of the wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State Mrs. Josephine Elechi whose war against Vesico Virginal Festula (VVF) has been acclaimed nationally and internationally. Under the scheme, Mrs. Elechi constructed a VVF repair centre in Abakaliki, in which over 300 patients from across the federation have been repaired, free of charge. Other health intervention programmes of the Governor’s wife include the safe motherhood project, Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme, relief for people living with HIV/AIDS and the Breast and Cervical Cancer project. Indeed, the health sector has faired admirably in 3 years of Elechi’s administration.

While it is difficult to comprehensively itemize the achievements of Ebonyi State government in the last 7 years, its strides in the agricultural sector deserves special mention. Apart from floating a tractor Hire service with the procurement of 200 brand new tractors, the government has also maintained a regime of incentives for Ebonyi farmers by way of soft loans, subsidization of fertilizer and distribution of improved agricultural inputs. To boost youth participation in agriculture, the state government undertook the sponsorship of 73 Ebonyi farmers to a training programme in Songhai Benin Republic. The trained youths have been given financial assistance of N 266 million to set up their agricultural outfit of their choice.

In order to decongest the Abakaliki rice mill, the state government has established 3 modern rice mill cluster one in senatorial zone which has started milling rice in Ikwo, Izzi and Osso Edda respectively. The modern rice milling machines worth N1.4 billion were supplied from Satake Corporation of Japan.

With the numerous achievements of the present administration in Ebonyi State in all sectors of the economy including the establishment of a new stone crushing estate at Ezza Umuoghara at the cost of N650 million, the construction of new digital radio and television stations at the cost of N2.4 billion among others, it is safe to say that Governor Elechi has kept faith with his promises.

The former Senator representing Ebonyi Central District, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, said that this year’s democracy day was the penultimate in the tenure of Governor Martin Elechi and was a fitting occasion for him to essay out for the people of the State the status of his stewardship in the course of the 7 years that he has been at the helm, saying that Elechi is always a confident performer.

His words: “Unlike the past when lack of exposure and inexperience hampered governance, Chief Elechi brought experience, knowledge, seriousness and disciplined mind to his administration’.

“He avoided the cosmetic efforts of the past and focused on substance infrastructure, structural and systemic reforms and genuine education policy that will long endure and deliver statewide benefits. I doubt that he will abandon any elephant projects. He unlocked the door of genuine development with the key of imagination”.

The senator said of course there is room for improvement because resources are scarce and human needs are unlimited, adding that it’s only a fool that will come to the conclusion that everything that can be achieved has been achieved.

According to Onwe, “but in summation, he can handover next year and retire or embark on another endeavour in his life confident in the knowledge that he has truly done his best for his people. We the writers of history will take it on from there. This is just an interim assessment. We will do the full report card in one year to come”.

If the governor should be given another opportunity to serve the state in any other capacity after his second term in office in 2015 if he wishes, it is left for the people of the state to decide but despite all odds, the governor has delivered the dividends of democracy to Ebonyians.

Jeff Amechi Agbodo, wrote from Abakaliki

http://thecityreporters.com/ebonyi-at-the-dawn-of-infrastructural-transformation/

Ikengawo:
I can not and will not relent in emphasizing that our future isn't only in large industrial investments, but it the rise of millions of small medium industries that can prosper from contracts with these mega plants and government. Supplying them with parts, chemicals, equipment and so forth. We have mastered to formula of small to medium sized commerce. It's rare to find a people so intimately entrenched in global commercial trade at all levels outside of alaigbo. we must now focus individually and collectively on mastering the formula of up start industry so that our children will have room to master the art of science needed to make the industries they inherit a global force.


The model provided buy Innoson should be the template. Import, then master the art of disassembling and assembling in the country so that you can fit more per container and profits will boom. In due time learn to make interchangeable parts at home. Import a percentage of parts that you cant duplicate or no location can duplicate. Sell the parts individuals at home can duplicate and use a fraction of the sales money to pay the duplicator for the goods and or his service. After time expand the amount of products you can make or get at home more cheaply until your rich enough to place a manufacturing and assembly plant in your village. With Industry you can place your operations in your own village unlike commerce where its safer from marauding almajiri and agberos, oppressive lagosian tax and demolition policies and big city cost of living cost of operation and hassle.


On the political level we must assure that rural igboland is a tax haven. In the near future government budgets will be majority IGR and we can't allow over taxation or double taxation to starve out business like in Lagos. We have to fight for oil states like abia imo and now anambra to get their 13% allocation like niger delta states so that tax doesn't become a necessity.

With parts being made as close as nnewi, onitcha, orlu, and aba it will be infinitely cheaper to follow this course to wealth at home than in Lagos. The seaport in Awka Ibom will be finished in no less than 6 years. We should push for rivers and calabars ports to be international as well to keep the cost of importing low and movement fast due to competition.


More important than anything we should refocus or reclaiming port harcourt which was stolen during the war from igbos with the help of less than loyal igbos. PH has the consumer market and port needed to make manufacturing a success and has historically been igbo territory until 40 years ago due to treachery. PH was a melting pot for all igbos and such a place in needed for our unity and advancement.

We can succeed, grow and develop with or without Port Harcourt if we get our acts and our policies right.

Group Rates Imo Best State on Road Construction

By Anolu Vincent Senior Correspondent – Owerri

Imo has been voted the best state in road construction in the South East with its Joint Monitoring Committee recommended as a model in the attainment of quality roads through prudent management.

In its mid-term assessment report released in Enugu, a global performance group, “South East Democracy Watch (SEDW),” described the processes of award of contracts, monitoring and execution of roads in Imo State as the best not only in the South East but the entire federation.

National Coordinator of SEDW, Chief Emeka Nnamani, who read the report, disclosed that the 300 kilometres of asphalted roads in Imo were of the best quality, yet with “competitive cost”.

“We were amazed that while other governments were using between N40 million and N60 million to construct a kilometre of asphalted road, Imo used only N21 million and yet the quality is fantastic”, he submitted.

He said their investigation showed that the monitoring committee headed by Hon Stan Dara of Imo State House of Assembly was able to save the people of the state a whopping N12 billion from the exercise.

According to Nnamani, the activities of the committee had shown that when officials are diligent in the execution of their assigned roles, contractors always complied with laid down procedure.

Said he, “when we interviewed contractors, they confirmed that the committee members were always at their neck but that when once a job has been fully completed, payment was promptly made”.

He noted that the transparent manner the Stan Dara committee handled the road projects was responsible for the high quality job and speed with which they were executed.

He commended Gov. Rochas Okorocha for the wisdom in setting up the committee which he said has impacted positively on road construction in the state.

Chief Nnamani who said his group would write to other state governments in the South East to adopt the Dara committee as a model, urged the members to remain focused in their service to the people of the state.

He also announced that Anambra came second in the assessment, Enugu third, Ebonyi fourth while Abia came last.

http://dailyindependentnig.com/2013/08/group-rates-imo-best-state-on-road-construction/

No doubt !!! This is a new road

Abagworo:
While it will be absurd to attribute everything in New Owerri to Rochas, it is rather wicked to say nothing was built by him despite seeing pictures of Hero's square area, Heros apartments, Ochiedike Road area, Multiple bridges linking old and New Owerri, Dee Sam road and dozens of new dual roads within New Owerri area which some are still under construction like the one I posted above. Let your conscience always be the judge. Owerri today is leaving the typical Nigerian looks and it takes a good leader to do that. Imo State has little resources to work with but someone did wonders with the little in less than four years and it is not limited to Owerri but all nooks and crannies of the State. A wise man will accept that much has been done while a lot is yet to be done but the improvement is very positive and rather miraculous to me.

https://s26.postimg.org/et4p1582h/ochie.jpg

shady26:
nice one rarediamonds, it appears our sisters have more sense than us the male folks who would rather choose to fight each other than promote igboland as u r doing. God bless ur efforts

Thanks bro !!! I am a male. This thread is to promote unity among Ndi Igbo on Nairaland.

Exclusive :Can Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s 140 Million Dollars Investment In Awka Survive? Niccus Employers Cry For Help!

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, a former House of Representative Member and Evangelist as well as an Industrilaist weekend broke a cheering news that his multi million dollar investment in Awka is set to be commissioned, but Anambrarians are receiving the news with a pinch of salt based on the agonies of those working at Niccus Industries Limited. Discover yourself below:


Odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that Ukachukwu is a dogged fighter even in politics and all he had laid his hands on even in beating mercilessly political opponents but that announcement is with a hiccup.

As a former gubernatorial aspirant in the state under PDP and later Hope party, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu was outstanding and marches money for money and force to force with all major contenders. He could have been in the senate now representing Anambra South senatorial zone but for smartness of Chief Chris Ubah that outshine his own smartness and his brother Senator Andy Ubah is there now.

At a stakeholders meeting at the Governor’s lodge weekend Prince Ukachukwu announced that his $140m investment in Awka would soon be ready for commissioning while he was perfecting plans to cite more industries in other parts of the state.

He commended the governor for demonstrating a deep sincerity of purpose and assured him of his support as well as his belief in his ability to deliver on his promise to Ndi Anambra, odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports exclusively.

But the fears stemmed from the investment at Onitsha Niccus industries limited manufacturing over 21 domestic products including ladies sanitary towels , baby diapers , pencils , medicated , Antiseptic , Toilet and Bar soap, plastic bottles and bottled water.
Others are Instant noodles , Jute sack and Ghana must go bags , converted papers and cartons , can juice as well as Polythene and shopping bags
Niccus Industries limited is located at Nkpor Junction and before now was beehive of activities employing over 6,000 direct and about 1,000 indirect staff .

But today staff are owed several months of salary and the place is a ghost of itself with many resigning and going without their entitlements.

It was alleged that the manager who happens to be a relative of the Prince ran the place aground as one could not reconcile the business acumen in Prince and Princess estate as well as many international schools that are a huge success to the Niccus delima which is an irony, odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports further.
Niccus is a subsidiary of SNECOU Group of companies.

But the Managing Director of Niccus Industries Limited , Pastor Oguine told odogwuemekaodogwu.com that all hope was not lost to resuscitate the factory back to its footings as every efforts have been put in place by the chairman Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu to revamp the ailing factory.

He blamed the previous governments in the state of being responsible for the predicament the factory is suffering because the Chairman of the company Prince Ukachukwu is in politics , his efforts were allegedly frustrated leading to the suffering of the over 7,000 staff in the company.

He decried the pains and agonies thousands of workers there went through because of adverse government policies without knowing that it would not be the Chairman of the company that would suffer the pains but the masses employed there. He hoped soonest all the agonies would be in the past.

And because the MD was skeptical of odogwuemekaodogwu.com , he was not troubled further about some salient points about Niccus like how many years staff were owed salary and stuff like that.

http://odogwuemekaodogwu..com/2014/06/exclusive-can-prince-nicholas.html#_

Exclusive :Can Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu’s 140 Million Dollars Investment In Awka Survive? Niccus Employers Cry For Help!

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, a former House of Representative Member and Evangelist as well as an Industrilaist weekend broke a cheering news that his multi million dollar investment in Awka is set to be commissioned, but Anambrarians are receiving the news with a pinch of salt based on the agonies of those working at Niccus Industries Limited. Discover yourself below:


Odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that Ukachukwu is a dogged fighter even in politics and all he had laid his hands on even in beating mercilessly political opponents but that announcement is with a hiccup.

As a former gubernatorial aspirant in the state under PDP and later Hope party, Chief Nicholas Ukachukwu was outstanding and marches money for money and force to force with all major contenders. He could have been in the senate now representing Anambra South senatorial zone but for smartness of Chief Chris Ubah that outshine his own smartness and his brother Senator Andy Ubah is there now.

At a stakeholders meeting at the Governor’s lodge weekend Prince Ukachukwu announced that his $140m investment in Awka would soon be ready for commissioning while he was perfecting plans to cite more industries in other parts of the state.

He commended the governor for demonstrating a deep sincerity of purpose and assured him of his support as well as his belief in his ability to deliver on his promise to Ndi Anambra, odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports exclusively.

But the fears stemmed from the investment at Onitsha Niccus industries limited manufacturing over 21 domestic products including ladies sanitary towels , baby diapers , pencils , medicated , Antiseptic , Toilet and Bar soap, plastic bottles and bottled water.
Others are Instant noodles , Jute sack and Ghana must go bags , converted papers and cartons , can juice as well as Polythene and shopping bags
Niccus Industries limited is located at Nkpor Junction and before now was beehive of activities employing over 6,000 direct and about 1,000 indirect staff .

But today staff are owed several months of salary and the place is a ghost of itself with many resigning and going without their entitlements.

It was alleged that the manager who happens to be a relative of the Prince ran the place aground as one could not reconcile the business acumen in Prince and Princess estate as well as many international schools that are a huge success to the Niccus delima which is an irony, odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports further.
Niccus is a subsidiary of SNECOU Group of companies.

But the Managing Director of Niccus Industries Limited , Pastor Oguine told odogwuemekaodogwu.com that all hope was not lost to resuscitate the factory back to its footings as every efforts have been put in place by the chairman Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu to revamp the ailing factory.

He blamed the previous governments in the state of being responsible for the predicament the factory is suffering because the Chairman of the company Prince Ukachukwu is in politics , his efforts were allegedly frustrated leading to the suffering of the over 7,000 staff in the company.

He decried the pains and agonies thousands of workers there went through because of adverse government policies without knowing that it would not be the Chairman of the company that would suffer the pains but the masses employed there. He hoped soonest all the agonies would be in the past.

And because the MD was skeptical of odogwuemekaodogwu.com , he was not troubled further about some salient points about Niccus like how many years staff were owed salary and stuff like that.

http://odogwuemekaodogwu..com/2014/06/exclusive-can-prince-nicholas.html#_

Imo State the Eastern Heartland Maintains Academic Excellence

Academic and interllectual excellence still remains the offshoot of scholars at every level of education in Imo state. Recently high school students from the state bagged the highest position in the final round of the zonal school competition.
Imo state governor has congratulated the students who have done the state proud by winning the first position in the south eastern zone in the national school quiz organized by the Nigeria national petroleum corporation NNPC for the 2014 zonal finals of the competition. In a release signed by the senior special assistant to the governor on media Mr Sam Onwuemodo, Governor Okorocha also congratulated the schools that produced the students and their parents, adding that the students were good ambassadors of the state.

The governor said the excellent performance of the students and the NNPC organized school quiz was an additional testimony to their enviable results of the qualitative free education policy of the state government which has also spurred private schools in the state to work very hard to retain their students and to attract new ones.
The NNPC organized national school quiz competition which to place at Ibeku High school Umuahia – the Abia state capital had the students’ knowledge tested in English language, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics.
Imo state came first with sixty points, while Anambra state came second with fifty points, Enugu state came third with forty five points, Ebonyi state came fourth with thirty points and Abia state bagged the fifth position with 25 points. The students who represented the state in the competition are Adadalam Obinna Tony and Aputazie Ijeoma Sylvia both from Living Word Academy School Nkwerre. Okezie Emmanuel Tochukwu is of the Christ the King Grammar School Okigwe.

It has been notable for the state to be leading in public examination and academic competition to the country in recent times and the state government says it would leave no unturned to sustain the tempo in the overall interest of the state in particular and the society at large.

http://heraldnewsmagazine.com/eastern-heartland-maintains-academic-excellence/