Imo State Government has revoked over 200 properties appropriated by the former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s led administration in the State.
Briefing newsmen in her office Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Networking, Chantel Chinyere Adanna Onwuzuruike said that the recovery and restoration is one of the achievements of the governor.
According to her among the recovered properties which are significant under this programme is the recovery of the Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko in Ideator South LGA of Imo.
She said that the university which was built with over 40 billion naira of state funds was appropriated by a former governor of the state adding that the administration also recovered a number of markets which were built with state funds in various parts of the state, but were handed over to the cronies of the previous administration.
The appointee said that Governor Hope Uzodinma also recovered Imo standard shoes from AMCON and cleared off the 1.6 billion naira debt with a view to industrialising Imo and creating jobs.
According to her, the administration has embarked on the construction of an ultra-modern market, which has over three thousand shops, which will house a police station, banks, a fire service station and many other facilities and services that can be obtained in a modern market
On Agriculture, she said that the Governor in collaboration with NALDA reconstructed and revived dilapidated Acharaubo farm in Owerri North and recorded numerous numbers of trained agriculturists.
The SA said that based on the recommendations of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Governor Hope Uzodinma embarked on the courageous task of revoking all properties which were unjustly appropriated by members of previous administrations and returning them to their rightful owners.
According to her the Royal Palm Estate, which was built on a green verge with taxpayers’ money has been recovered alongside the Shell Camp Quarters containing almost 50 plots of land which were illegally seized from the rightful owners and sold or given to cronies
On road rehabilitation, she pointed out that the Governor has revolutionnalise roads which can be grouped into three, namely urban/city renewal roads, economically important roads and Intercity roads.
According to her Uzodimma undertook the audacious task of simultaneously renovating and constructing a total of over 90 roads adding that some of these have now been completed while the others are on various degrees of completion.
She said that the distribution of these roads was such that no part of the state was left out as part of the urban renewal infrastructural upgrade adding that Governor Uzodinma embarked on the remodelling, resurfacing and construction of numerous roundabouts and city roads with the construction and the innovative balloon – driven flood control mechanism to help check flooding in the capital city.
Chantel said that the most audacious of the infrastructural projects of Governor Uzodinma’s administration can be said to be the construction of the 43 KM long Owerri – Orlu (43 KM) and the 66 Km long Owerri-Okigwe dual carriageways. The socioeconomic impact of these roads, which connect the three main senatorial zones in the state, and which cut through over 10 Local Government Areas of the state, cannot be overestimated.
She pointed out that previous administrations had shied away from the reconstruction of these roads for decades because of the excuse that they are “federal roads added that, Senator Uzodinma, on realizing the importance of these roads in connecting Owerri to her neighbouring cities had to embark on the project.
She acknowledged the quality of these roads built by Governor Uzodinma will outlive many administrations – just as the ones built by our beloved Dee Sam Mbakwe; whose aim is to strengthen the state’s economy by boosting commerce, industry and tourism.
The appointee said that the most audacious of the infrastructural projects of Governor Uzodinma’s administration can be said to be the construction of the 43 KM long Owerri – Orlu (43 KM) and the 66 Km long Owerri-Okigwe dual carriageways.
She said that the socioeconomic impact of these roads, which connect the three main senatorial zones in the state, and which cut through over 10 Local Government Areas of the state, cannot be overestimated.
She said: “previous administrations had shied away from the reconstruction of these roads for decades because of the excuse that they are “federal roads”. However, Senator Uzodinma, on realizing the importance of these roads in connecting Owerri to her neighbouring cities had to embark on the project”.
She said: “the roads will outlive many administrations – just as the ones built by our beloved Dee Sam Mbakwe; and the aim is to strengthen the state’s economy by boosting commerce, industry and tourism”.
Other projects executed include Government House, the State Secretariat and the Executive Council Chambers. Others are the Governor’s Wife Office, the Armoury and Ancillary Buildings at Government House, the Deputy Governor’s Lodge, the Imo State House of Assembly and the construction of a new official residence for the Commissioner of Police.
She said that the administration has also completed plans for a mass housing programme to provide affordable shelter for citizens of Imo State under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
According to her, the housing estates will be sited in the three senatorial zones of Okigwe, Owerri and Orlu adding that lands have already been acquired and the necessary designs done.
Hon. Chantel Chinyere Adanna Onwuzuruike SA to the Governor of Imo on networking.
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