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By Declan Emelumba
History will again be made tomorrow when President Muhammadu Buhari arrives Imo State for the inauguration of landmark projects executed by the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Transporters and marketwomen’s associations whose businesses have started witnessing improvements, as well as town union presidents of the different communities, are already commending Uzodimma for fixing the two major roads. They are equally excited that President Buhari will inaugurate the projects on Tuesday.
The signture projects include the dualized Owerri-Orlu road, the phase one of the Owerri-Okigwe road and the rebuilt ultra-modern State House of Assembly complex, all executed by Uzodimma in a space of two years.
This is the second time President Buhari will be visiting Imo officially to launch notable projects by the Uzodimma administration. He had earlier inaugurated some projects virtually in the early life of the administration, which is yet to clock three years in office.
All the projects executed by the government of Imo State have direct impact on the economy of the state and quality of life of the people.
The dualized Owerri-Orlu road, which hitherto was a single lane, had been in a bad shape for the past two decades. It defied reconstruction by previous administrations because of the devastating erosion menace at the Amucha axis of the road. Uzodimma has not only effectively checked the erosion with the right technology but also delivered a dual 35 kilometre dual carriegeway, which has made travelling and movement of agricultural produce easier.
This 35 kilometre road traverses seven local government areas of the state. It has now opened a new economic vista for the residents of those areas. Little wonder those whose businesses have been positively impacted are full of joy.
The same is applicable to the Owerri- Okigwe road, which was abandoned for many years. Its reconstruction was also stalled before now because of a difficult topography characterized by erosion menace. Now, the problem is a thing of the past as motorists no longer spend three hours for a journey of 50 minutes. The economic impact of this road cannot be overemphasized as it also cuts across many local government areas leading to Abia, Anambra and Enugu states.
The other landmark project to be inaugurated by President Buhari is the rebuilt Imo State House of Assembly Complex, which had been in a rancid state of decay for more than 10 years before the intervention of Gov. Uzodimma.
Realizing that the Assembly complex represents the symbol of the people’s power in a constitutional democracy such as ours, Uzodimma moved quickly to recover the edifice. Apart from completely rebuilding it, the governor installed state-of-the-art equipment that makes it one of the most modern legislative houses in Nigeria.
It is instructive that in his last visit to the state, President Buhari had inaugurated the balloon flood control technology in Owerri to check the perennial flooding at Chukwuma Nwoha axis and neighbouring streets of the state capital. In the process, many of the abandoned estates were recovered for their owners.
The President also opened the Naze-Nekede-Ihiagwa-Obinze road, which leads to Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede. The Iwuanyanwu by-pass and the brand new and expanded ultra-modern Executive Council Chambers were also inaugurated by Mr. President.
The instructive thing about the prompt delivery of these landmark projects is that the administration defied the distractions of the opposition as manifested in the politically motivated security crisis in the state to serve the people.
Apart from these key projects, Uzodimma has constructed and reconstructed more than 105 quality roads in the state in less than three years that he has been in office. These roads cut across the 27 local government areas of the state.
A few weeks ago, he flagged off the reconstruction of the Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road and the Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa-Uga road, which lead to Abia and Anambra states, respectively.
The aim of the road revolution in Imo State is to stimulate and fast-track the economic development of the state. Indeed, without basic infrastructure like roads, economic activities can hardly thrive, which, sadly, had been the bane of Imo State for over two decades.
The governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has promised that, under the prosperity agenda of the his government, encapsulated in Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery, all the local governments will be connected by quality, motorable roads before the end of his first tenure.
As the government and people of Imo welcome President Buhari to the state for the inauguration of these signature projects, it is noteworthy that the good people of Imo State, particularly the direct beneficiaries of these projects, are full of joy and excitement as they welcome Mr. President.
To the glory of God, things are looking up in Imo State for the good of all.
•Emelumba is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Imo State
