Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration came close to generating, transmitting, and distributing power in all 27 local government areas of Imo State by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Orashi Electricity Company Limited to achieve the objective.
The Imo State Commissioner for Power, Engr Nwabueze Oguchienti, and the acting permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr Basil Okolie, signed the pact for the government in the governor’s office, while the general manager of 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 of 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 ceremony, Governor Uzodimma said, this 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 agreement, 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 the government would do its best to live up to the responsibilities expected of her in the agreement, both at the state and local government 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.
He reiterated that Imo State needs power to revitalise ailing industries, attract new industries, create jobs, improve the ease of doing business, and, more importantly, return the state to what it used to be known as, “the tourism headquarters of the zone.”
He said, “By so doing, the people will be empowered, life will be made more meaningful, and our people will live longer.”
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