Imo: Revamping its moribund industries
By Kizito Duru
Anyone who knows the present day Imo State in and out will acknowledge the truism that the state is deficient in industries. This makes the imperative to reinvent the state to become one that thrives in commerce and industry impeccable. Notably, sister states such as Abia, Anambra, and Enugu have reacted positively and shown genuine intent to entrench sustainable industrial revolutions that will transform the states into more productive and economically viable ones, for the benefit of their citizens.
No one can genuinely blame Gov Hope Uzodimma for infrastructural decay he inherited, as subsequent administrations had made mess of the foundation and legacies of Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, former Governor of old Imo State (now late). It is on record that Mbakwe built a solid industrial base and also developed the state’s infrastructure.
Mbakwe started and completed a major industries in almost every local government area in the state, having adopted a zonal arrangement to ensure even spread of industries.
There was the Aluminum Extrusion Industry located at Ikeduru, Paper Packaging Industry located at Owerre Ebiri, Orlu; Sacs Hercules Motorcycle Plant located at Naze in Owerri North; Clay Industries located at Ezinnachi, Okigwe; Nsu Tiles and Ceramics Industry loacted at Ezeoke, Ehime Mbano; Standard Shoe Industry located at Owerri, Imo Modern Poultry located at Avutu in Obowo LGA; Aluminum Smelter Plant in Inyishi, International Glass Industry Aba, Modern Ceramics Industry Umuahia, Paint and Resin Factory Mbaise, Imo Concord Hotel Owerri, Imo Hotels in Owerri, Umuahia and Aba – and the list goes on and on.
Today, industrially, Imo is a shadow of its former self. Governments have come after Mbakwe but did nothing to follow in the foot steps of the Avutu born “Weeping Governor” who assumed the mantle of leadership of the state on October 1, 1979, barely three years after its creation by the military in 1976. It was subsequent military governments that allowed most of the aforementioned industries to go moribund.
Sadly, since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, there has been little or no effort to revamp the moribund industries. This has created high unemployment rate in the state. From 1999 till date, the over dependence on federal government’s allocation to run the state has not brought forth the desired effect on a state of over four million people.
The inability of previous governments to look inwards towards economic diversification through industrialization is one of the major reasons Imo State’s growth and development is stunted. It also accounts for the prevailing rate of unemployment as the government.
Former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, knew how pertinent it was to industrialise the state, which largely informed his decision to hinge his second term bid in 2015 on creation of industries which in turn would open employment for Imo’s teaming younger generation. He termed it “Job. Job. job. Factory. Factory. Factory. Industry. Industry. Industry.”
But characteristic of Okorocha, he did not keep his promise to Imo people. And after his eight years reign, there is no single factory operating in Imo that is his brainchild. The industries he promised Imo people were actually hotels, estates, classic restaurants and bars, shopping malls that belong to close family members and cronies.
Most Imolites believe that after Mbakwe, the state has not been governed by a man as prepared for the art of governance as the much celebrated Mbakwe when he manned the affairs of the then Imo that included Abia and some parts of Ebonyi state. While this notion may not be entirely true, especially given the good job done by Chief Achike Udenwa to improve Imo State after taking over the reigns of leadership in 1999 following a protracted military dictatorship that destroyed most of Mbakwe’s good works.
Nevertheless, Imo is desirous of a good administrator who understands the peculiarities of the various regions of the state, embraces the global practice in industrialization and focuses on developing the economy of the state and making it the hub of the Southeast market by identifying and developing viable areas of comparative advantage.
Gov. Hope Uzodimma, however, has shown signs that he is very much interested in the industrialization of the state. But most of his exploits so far are in the oil and gas sector.
It was also within Uzodimma 365 days in office that the presidency stormed Imo state for the inauguration of the 5,000 barrels per day Waltersmith modular refinery in Ibigwe, Imo State, as well as the ground-breaking ceremony for the Phase-2 works to expand the capacity of the refinery to 50,000 barrels/day. This project has since kicked off.
But It is expected that the state government looks towards other areas of investment and industrialization. For example, in an area like Okigwe LGA which is rich in clay, expectations are on for the state government to establish the type of industry that will harness the natural resources there. This was also demonstrated by the Mbakwe administration who built Clay Industries at Ezinnachi Okigwe.
Gov Uzodimma should see real industrialization of Imo State as one step that needs to be taken towards creating direct and indirect employments. The Shared Prosperity Government should ensure a viable agricultural sector and look to open up the state for agro businesses and agro-industrial investments to ensure economic growth and food security for Imo people.
Policies and programmes that will attract private sector investors and investments, especially in line with the state government’s manifesto to have Imo State industrialized, should be encouraged and sincerely pursued for maximum impact.
Maybe for a start, Standard Shoe Industry Owerri, Imo Modern Poultry Avutu, Obowo, Aluminum Extrusion Industry Ikeduru,
Sacs Hercules Motorcycle Plant Naze Owerri, Clay Industries Ezinnachi Okigwe, Nsu Tiles and Ceramics Industry Ezeoke Mbano,
Aluminum Smelter Plant in Inyishi, and Resin Factory Mbaise should be revived and made to function optimally.
If the Shared Prosperity Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma shows serious interest in industrialization of the state, it will not only curb unemployment and its attendant vices, but also increase tremendously the state’s internally generated revenue and transform Imo State into a modern and model State.
