BY JENNIFER JOHN / OWERRI
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Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi as Minister of Works.
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Uzodimma called on the Minister to replicate what he did in his home state, Ebonyi in terms of durable infrastructure across Nigeria.
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Making the request in his address at Government House, Owerri on Friday while hosting Umahi who was on an official visit to the state, Uzodimma assured him of the maximum support of his government and the people of Imo State.
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The governor disclosed his plans for him to lead a delegation of South East Governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing him as the Federal Minister of Works as well as other ministerial appointments to South Easterners.
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Governor Uzodimma expressed optimism that by the end of Umahi’s tenure as a Minister, all Federal Roads in the country would have a facelift.
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He urged President Tinubu to give Umahi the required leverage to operate and succeed in his Ministry.
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The governor however decried the inability of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to live up to its responsibility of maintaining federal roads in the state and across the South East zone.
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He told the Minister that on his assumption in 2020, all federal roads in the state were in deplorable condition, with its numerous adverse effects but he took it upon himself to do whatever he could to remedy the situation.
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According to him, “Imolites are not interested on whether the roads belong to federal or state government, rather all they want is good roads in the state.”
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He listed the federal roads in the state which his administration comprehensively reconstructed, with approval from the Federal Ministry of Works to include; Owerri-Orlu Road, Owerri-Okigwe Road, Owerri-Mbaise-Obowo-Umuahia Roads, as well as the ongoing Orlu_Akokwa Road.
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According to the governor, members of South East Governors’ Forum, National Assembly members from the South East, members of Federal Executive Council from South East, are all working in unity of purpose, for the advancement of the South East geo-political zone.
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He reiterated that South East zone is part and parcel of Nigeria, whose citizens believe in Nigeria, as they need Nigeria in equal propitiation as the country needs them.
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In his speech, the Works Minister, Umahi, also poured encomiums on Governor Uzodimma for the massive development he brought to Imo State.
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Umahi used the opportunity to intimate the state governor on the activities of his Ministry since he assumed office, stressing that he has embarked on regular inspection of ongoing federal roads to make sure all defects are corrected.
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The Minister promised the governor that the federal roads in the state will receive priority attention, even as he noted the governor’s observation about FERMA and informed him of measures being put in place to address such shortcomings.
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He expressed his readiness to give approval for any state government which wishes to undertake the reconstruction of any federal roads in their states, even as the refund may not be immediate.
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The Minister promised the governor of cordial working relationship, congratulating him in advance for the forthcoming governorship election which he expressed optimism of his victory.
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He also promised to be part of Uzodimma’s campaign team, stressing that he will be on ground to monitor the election proper.
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