Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration bid to provide steady electricity supply in all the 27 local government areas of Imo State, has received a boost as the state government on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Orashi Electricity Company Limited to achieve the purpose.
Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor said in a statement that the pact was signed for the government in the Governor’s office by the Imo State Commissioner for Power, Engr Nwabueze Oguchienti and the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Basil Okolie, while the General Manager, Orashi Electricity Company Limited, Mr Valentine Obunmeyan and Mr. Mohammed Sahid signed for their company.
The Imo State Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Rubby Emele and her colleague for the Rural Development and Empowerment, Chief Ifeanyi Oruh, signed as witnesses.
The pact was tagged: ”Memorandum of Agreement for The Light up Imo Project for the Rehabilitation, Expansion, Operation and Maintenance of Electricity Generation, Transmission and Distribution Assets of Imo State Government between the Imo State Government and the 27 Local Governments Areas of Imo State and Orashi Electricity Company Limited.’
Addressing both parties at the brief but very important ceremony, Governor Uzodimma said it, “marks the commencement of all the plans put in place to light up Imo State and ensure electricity gets to the 27 LGAs of the State on a permanent and steady basis.”
He said with the signing, Orashi Electricity Company Limited had been charged and mandated to embark on generation, transmission and distribution of power in Imo State.
The Governor noted: “Government sees the project as a critical priority project that must be accomplished within record time.”
He urged the State’s Ministry of Power to put all necessary arrangements in place to ensure that “by the end of the year, at least there is steady power in the urban areas.”
Governor Uzodimma promised that government will do her best to live up to the responsibilities expected of her in the agreement, both at the State and Local governments levels, noting that “in return, we will expect the partners to do their part.”
“Government is not unmindful of the fact that it is going to be a heavy expenditure, but with God on our side I am sure government will be able to accomplish it,” he said to assuage the perceived concerns of both parties.
He reiterated that Imo State needs power to revitalise ailing industries, bring in new industries, create jobs, and improve on ease of doing business and more importantly, to return the State back to what it used to be known, “the tourism headquarters of the zone.”
He said “by so doing the people will be empowered, life made more meaningful and our people will live longer.”
Present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr COC Akolisa and some members of the expanded Executive Council.