We’re making progress on security in Imo – Uzodinma

Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, says the government is working seriously on improving security situation in the state with remarkable successes.

Uzodinma said this while briefing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja.

He said that for the first time in a while, Imo residents enjoyed the most peaceful Christmas, adding that schools were now opened in most communities of the local government areas.

“By this time in 2022, it was in all the places that schools are closed. So, that today you are reporting of two or three communities is progress. It is not as if we have not managed security very well in those communities that were the epicentre of insecurity during the period on our review.

“The fear is still resonating and the heights of these are students of those schools but we have embarked on awareness campaign. I’m almost certain that by the end of this month, every school will be opened,” he said.

On the Oguta Lake project, Uzodinma said that timeline had been set for its completion and linking it with the Atlantic Ocean.

He said that stakeholders like the Nigerian Navy, consortium of companies and Hydrographer had made recommendations in respect of the project.

“We are partnering with the Nigerian navy, working with some consortium of companies and so far, from the work programme, the entire hydrographic survey for the Oguta lake to rush off into the Atlantic Ocean has been completed and certified by the number one hydrographer of the country.

“It’s in the process to establish the quantity of sand that will be removed from the lake, otherwise called the channel and then the design of the navigational equipments like buoys and other navigation aids that will be installed on the channel.

“So, it is still work in progress. It is our hope that toward the middle of the year, dredging proper will start. It is our hope that 18 months will be the proper period for the entire Oguta water lake to join the Atlantic Ocean with people working in two shifts; day and night.”

The governor said that solid foundation had been laid in his first tenure as governor, which would form the bedrock of the second term.

He said the administration was able to touch all aspects of the state economy in its first tenure, adding that this had led to the successful elections in November 2023.

Uzodinma said that Nigerians should expect a complete transformation in infrastructural development from the 2024 budget presented by President Tinubu.

“If you look at the provisions in that act and the number of infrastructure and capital projects proposed by the President, if we’re able to perform even 50 per cent of the budget, it will not be the same Nigeria.

“In leadership, every leader must be able to articulate his vision on a marble and every vision is like a journey. So once this destination has been established, the next thing is to start the journey.

“So from this January to Dec. 31, I’m sure the initial pains occasioned by some of these reform policies, like the subsidy removal on petroleum products, the exchange rate escalation will be gone.”

He urged Nigerians to be more supportive of the various government policies aimed at reviving the economy.