Imo to revoke plots, begins urban renewal scheme

In continuation of its urban renewal programme, the Imo State government plans to revoke undeveloped plots and relocate the Imo Transport Company (ITC), Ekeukwu market and the artisans/timber shades amongst others to new locations.

Under the plan, ITC will move to Aba road, the Ekeukwu market to outskirts of Owerri metropolis. Already, the Industrial Village in Orji and Nekede have been relocated to Avu, Owerri West local government, while car automobile market at Aba road has been relocated to the Nneoma Skills acquisition Centre along the same axis.

Governor Rochoas Okorocha who disclosed this during a press briefing at the NUJ Centre, Port-Harcourt road, Owerri, insisted that more houses would be pulled down, while undeveloped allotted plots of land would be revoked to give way for expansion of roads. He tasked journalists to assist his administration publicise its activities to the people promising to help the union fix leaking portions of its building.

He regretted that the 25- storey-building project was disrupted by some persons, leading to wastage of N2billion worth of Iron rods and other materials, which made the expatriates handling the project, to withdraw.

“Many lands have remained undeveloped for 45 years. That is why we have decided that all the undeveloped properties within the city would be revoked. We believe that the South-South and Southeast people have taken over Owerri. If I go by old master plan, I will pull down many houses, to save costs. I believed this government means well for the state”, he said

Okorocha said the Federal Government owed the state government N7billion, being cost the state expended on rehabilitation and other projects. He demands for reimbursement, has such gesture would assist the state to finance several ambitious projects it embarked upon adding that his government spent about N60Million to construct one kilometre road.

He further stated that the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), has increased from N180Million recorded last January to about N450Million monthly, expressing optimism that the N26.8 billion bailout granted to the state to pay arrears of workers’ salary, would be written off by the Federal Government.

According to him, government was considering collecting a total N24 billion eight-year security vote (from 2011- 2019), which was calculated at N250million monthly entitlement.