• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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‘Rebuild Imo Agenda’ to stabilise, strengthen governance structures

‘Rebuild Imo Agenda’ to stabilise, strengthen governance structures

The new captains of the ship of government in Imo State are resetting the sail to steer the Eastern Heartland towards sustainable economic growth by rebuilding governance structures to ensure transparency and accountability in government affairs.

Strategically located in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones of 200 million people strong Nigeria, the new governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha is betting on making the state a transport and logistics, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) hub because of its proximity to all the South Eastern and South Southern states in addition to the many tertiary institutions resident in the state. Thanks to the transport and logistics drive, the Imo Transport Corporation (IT) for the first time in many years remitted N30 million to the government coffers recently.

The ‘Rebuild Imo Agenda’ is a raft of government policy initiatives designed to promote inclusive economic growth. Some strands of this governance thrust are seen in the introduction of a Treasury Single Account (TSA) into the state by the Ihedioha-led administration. This seeks to curb fraudulent practices. Local Government Areas in the state may experience this in terms of receipt of all funds accruing from the Federal Government allocation going directly into LGA’s coffers, which will, in turn, drive grass root development and politics.

Upon assumption of office, Ihedioha set up various committees of inquiry to look into land allocation, disbursement of contracts and judicial inquiries all aimed at building inclusivity.

Anthony Abili, liaison officer, Imo State Liaison Office, Lagos said the state is burdened with collapsing bridges and closed flyovers because of questions surrounding the integrity of these structures. The new administration has however invited the Nigerian Society of Engineers to review the infrastructure stock of the state. Flooding has been prevalent in some parts of the state such as Ideato South and North Local Government Areas due largely to failures to adhere to drainage designs and building on drainage canals.

“In the last couple of months after the swearing of the new governor, we have had a daunting challenge in stabilising the ship of government and this is clearly due to the way the state was run in the last eight years. We met a situation where there were no structures of governance, they had virtually collapsed” Abili said. “We are however going to spend less time playing the blame game. We have rolled our sleeves up and are ready to start rebuilding the whole system of governance in Imo State. Imo State is ready for business.”

In the last two years, Owerri, the capital city of Imo State received intense attention from Nigerians because Rochas Okorocha, the immediate past governor of the state resorted to building statues of prominent African leaders at the Freedom Square for tourist attraction, Okorocha had said. It earned Owerri the reputation of a ‘City of Statues’. A new reputation is being built, time will tell what it turns out to be.