OWERRI— IMO State government says it is determined to finish and commission the new multi billion Naira State Secretariat Complex in Owerri, before the year runs out according to the Deputy Governor, Chief Ebere Udeagu.
He also told Vanguard in Owerri that the administration of Achike Udenwa is very desirous to leave lasting legacies in the state.
Acknowledging that the project has gulped some good money, the deputy governor expressed satisfaction at the quality of work already done in the Complex.
Explaining why the administration opted to build the Secretariat Complex, Chief Udeagu said it was not a good testimonial that the state still operated from temporary secretariats located at Okigwe road and Orlu road within Owerri Municipality.
“Imo State is 28 years old. It is not a good corporate testimonial that for all these years, the state is still operating from temporary secretariats located at both the Orlu road and Okigwe road in the municipality. There is the need to situate all the ministries in one place as this will save time and money trying to move one mail from one office to the other”, the Deputy Governor explained.
Although he could not tell immediately how much the state government has sunk into the project, Chief Udeagu however insisted that the project was worthwhile.
“I cannot say immediately how much this administration has spent on the State Secretariat Complex because I do not have the relevant papers with me, but I can tell you that the expenditure is worthwhile. This is a project the citizenry, especially the civil and public servants have been yearning for”, Udeagu said.
Answering another question, the Deputy Governor assured all communities in the state of the determination of the present administration to extend the dividends of democracy to every corner within the availability of resources.
“It is the plan of the state government to touch every community, subject to availability of the needed funds. It is also the desire of the administration to improve the economic stand of its citizenry.
"This is why we floated the poverty alleviation programme, as well as made industrialization and agriculture parts of our cardinal programmes”, the Deputy Governor explained.
He appealed to the citizenry to embrace the programmes stressing that government will not hesitate to assist those who fully embrace these economic enhancement policies.
