‘How Okorocha administration has positively changed the story of Imo’
Chidi Ibe, an engineer and commissioner for Commerce and Industry Imo State, in this interview with SABY ELEMBA opens up on the suitability of the state for any type of investment; why there us influx of people to Owerri and appeals to the general public to visit Imo and see things for themselves. Excerpts:
There has been an increase in retail shops and other markets in the state for some time now; what is responsible for that?
We give God the glory because he has given us a man who has come to change the equation, who has come to transform the entire state, the governor, Rochas Okorocha; a man who loves his fellow human beings has come to make changes. Today, Imo is industrialised, and in such a way that commercial activities have increased.
This is why when you go out you will see an element of improvement from what we used to have in Imo State in terms of buying and selling, and every other type of business. The environment is commercially active and there is both formal and informal businesses going on. During the electioneering campaign, the governor made a promise to the people of Imo State that the major policy of the government in this second term is industry, industry, industry; factory, factory, factory and job, job, job, and that has been the guiding policy of this administration.
Recently, government repurchased the Resin Paint Industry as part of the development policy and has handed it over to a Chinese company which has taken over the place. If you go there you will see that the entire place has been renovated and you will see also signs of activities of a very serious organisation.
And in no distant time our people will be in China for training and on coming back will resume work and this is the primary orientation for those that would be engaged there for one assignment or the other. The company is into electrical appliances, refrigerator, iron, electric meter, INEC reader cards etc. And one important thing this government has done is the transformation and reformation of the entire state, including the roads.
What other things?
What this government has done is to provide an enabling environment for investors to come and feel comfortable. We have an environment that is devoid of inimical sentiment. You cannot say that what we used to have as far as security is concerned in Imo State is what we are presently having. No, it has automatically changed.
You hardly get information or hear that people have been kidnapped unlike what we used to hear before; such social vices are no longer in existence in the state.
And in terms of market development, we are trying to have a unified market system; we have established some ultra modern and international markets. In terms of building materials we have provided a place for them so that when you want to buy you will not see people selling food stuffs there.
We have our conventional markets, traditional markets, satellite markets, electronic markets, so that when you want to buy, you will go to the designated place and buy.
We notice influx of people especially at weekends; what s responsible for this?
This is because as I am speaking to you, Imo is a transit and commercial centre and a star of the nation at the moment. Most people come to Owerri for their weekend to relax because the area is devoid of crimes. The area is friendly. People from neighbouring towns of Aba, Umuahia, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha come here to spend their weekend. Imo is hospitable and for our hospitality, I wonder if any state can bit us.
Are there investment opportunities to attract both local and foreign investors?
Yes, we are going to have Imo investment summit where every investor will come and interact and look for investment opportunities available in the state. In the oil and gas sector, we have oil and gas deposits; we have palm trees and produce enough quantity of palm oil.
For the non-metallic mineral based industries the ones that have been identified so far in commercial quantities are Kaolin, lime stone, clay and Alumina. Kaolin and kaolin clay deposits exist in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area and in many places in Okigwe LGA. Clay is important in brick building, monument making and in pottery, it is also used in earthen ware, China ware, vases, plumbing textures, tiles etc.
And you know that limestone is the major component in cement manufacturing. Limestone is used also in ceramics, chemicals, lime, water treatment, and paint and also used in the manufacture of chalks etc. Limestone deposits are found in Okigwe LGA, we have also gypsum deposits in Okigwe LGA, which is a major and essential ingredient of cement.
There is no community in Imo State today that has not planted palm seedlings. The governor gave assistance to every community in the state to map out a hectare of land for planting of palm trees. We have also rubber, cocoa etc.
Do you have another message to the general public?
There are adequate provisions for security, Imo State is now a commercial centre, it is a state that is attractive to investors, Imo is a tourist’s centre and that is why we are going to organise Imo State investment summit so that we project them.