The Federal Government has praised the Imo State Government for ongoing investments in road and healthcare infrastructure, describing them as evidence of how federal and state collaboration is translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for citizens.

The commendation came on Thursday during the second day of the Presidential Media Tour of Projects in Imo State, organised by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) in collaboration with the Presidential Media Team.

Speaking after inspecting the Orlu–Mgbee–Akokwa–Uga federal road, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said the project exemplified the impact of increased allocations to states and closer collaboration between the Federal and state governments.

Dare noted that the once impassable road had defeated previous administrations because of severe gully erosion that cut off communities and disrupted economic activities.

He said about 80 per cent of the road had now been completed, including extensive reclamation works, a concrete bridge, drainage systems and street lighting, restoring a critical transport corridor linking Imo and Anambra states.

“The entire Imo side was completely cut off from Anambra. Today, what we are seeing is about 80 per cent completion of the road, and that will have massive economic implications for the South-East,” he said.

According to him, the project illustrates how increased monthly allocations to states following recent fiscal reforms are being channelled into infrastructure development.

He added that the partnership funding arrangement between the Federal Government and Imo State demonstrated how collaboration could accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure.

Dare also linked the ongoing projects to broader economic reforms, arguing that the removal of fuel subsidy had released more resources for development.

“We can boldly point to the positive impact of subsidy removal. States now have more resources for development, and projects like these are the result,” he said.

The presidential aide also inspected the Imo State University Teaching Hospital in Orlu and the nearly completed 200-bed Infectious Disease Centre.

He described the projects as examples of investments in human capital development, noting that road infrastructure and improved healthcare services complement one another in improving the quality of life of citizens.

“We have seen a 2,000-bed infectious disease centre nearing completion, an oxygen plant and a revitalised teaching hospital. These are the kinds of projects that directly impact people’s lives,” he said.

Providing further insight into the road project, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the Orlu–Mgbee–Akokwa–Uga corridor serves as a strategic commercial route connecting Imo and Anambra states.

He recalled that a major gully erosion had rendered part of the federal highway unusable for several years before the current intervention.

“This road is very important because it connects Imo with Anambra and serves a major commercial corridor. For years, this section was cut into two by gully erosion, but the governor was determined to restore it despite the enormous cost,” Emelumba said.

He added that although the road is a federal highway, the Imo State Government committed substantial resources to ensure its reconstruction because of its economic importance.

The Orlu–Mgbee–Akokwa–Uga road is a major federal highway linking communities in Imo State with neighbouring Anambra. The reconstruction, being handled by Craneburg Construction Company, includes extensive erosion control works around the Orashi River corridor, drainage infrastructure and a new bridge designed to permanently address years of ecological damage that had made the route impassable.

At the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Executive Assistant to the Chief Medical Director, Victor Samson, said the institution had witnessed remarkable transformation since Governor Hope Uzodimma assumed office.

He said the hospital, established in 2004, had previously suffered from inadequate funding, loss of specialist medical personnel and deteriorating facilities.

According to him, government intervention had led to the acquisition of modern medical equipment, improved laboratory services, recruitment of consultants, installation of a 260KV solar power system and expansion of oxygen production capacity.

“The governor has invested significantly in modern equipment and infrastructure. We now have more specialists returning to the hospital, improved facilities and a much higher patient inflow than before,” Samson said.

He disclosed that more than 4,000 free surgeries had been carried out under the state’s annual free medical outreach programme, while inpatient admissions had risen substantially following the improvements.

Samson also said the 200-bed Infectious Disease Centre, being developed through a partnership involving the Federal Government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Seplat Energy, was about 85 per cent completed and would serve as a specialist referral facility for infectious diseases across the South-East when operational.

Also speaking, Emelumba said the teaching hospital had regained accreditation for the training of medical doctors after it was withdrawn before the current administration came into office.

He said the restoration enabled six sets of stranded medical students to graduate and had since returned the institution to regular medical training.