The leaders and people of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State have expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the State Governor Hope Uzodinma for the warm reception accorded them during their solidarity visit to the Government House, Owerri.

Uzodinma on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, received the leaders and stakeholders from Ikeduru and Ngor Okpala local government areas.

The leader of Ngor Okpala delegation, Sir Eustace Ekeh, commended the Governor for approving a Town Hall meeting where the people of LGA had the opportunity for an interactive session with him.

Presenting an address on behalf of Ngor Okpala, a Federal Commissioner, Dr T. O. Ekechi, extolled Governor Uzodinma for achieving giant strides within the short period of his administration despite the Covid-19 pandemic, dwindling Federal Allocation and insecurity that has befallen the State since the commencement of his administration as Imo State Governor.

He also commended the Governor for finding Ngor Okpala worthy to be favoured with some level of development projects, some of which are not known to some Ngor Okpala people, while mentioning those projects and where they are cited in Ngor Okpala.

At the same time, Hon. Ekechi drew the attention of the Governor to other infrastructural and economic pressing needs of Ngor Okpala which include road rehabilitation and reconstruction, creation of additional two Local Government Areas, commerce and job creation through the establishment of industrial cluster at already Government acquired land in Okpala Community, the establishment of a Special Border Security Network and to put in use the Campus of Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences located in Ngor Okpala.

In his speech, the Ngor Okpala APC Leader, Chief George Ekeh, equally thanked the Governor and urged him to help Nde Ngor Okpala with the reconstruction of roads as a priority, emphasising that road infrastructural development will serve the people better than individual appointments.

The immediate past Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Chief Enyinnaya Onuegbu, thanked the Governor for the good works he has been doing in the state capital and Imo State in general. He mentioned several roads the Governor reconstructed in Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu and thanked the Governor for standing to the test of time in the period of insecurity that was politically motivated, and restored peace in Imo.

Chief Val Okere appreciated the works Governor Uzodimma has done so far within a short period and appealed to him to reconstruct the road leading from Ulakwo to Umuneke and ending at Nkwo-Ala Market.

He also brought to the attention of the Governor, the road from Airport to Umuohiagu-Nnorie-Ohekelem-Umuhu, cutting across four communities before getting to Aba Road.

On his part, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Prof. B. G. Nwaorgu, expressed his gratitude to the Governor on his appointment as Commissioner which was not anticipated.

The IMC Chairman, Chief Mayor Obinna Nweke, thanked Governor Uzodinmafor all the good things he has done for the people of Ngor Okpala which include, among others, the 24hrs storage facility provided at the 31 Health Centres in Ngor Okpala LGA, the ongoing Motorised Water Scheme of which 14 of them are already completed, the trucks load of fertilizer provided for Ngor Okpala farmers.

Chief Nweke lauded the Governor for the thousands of palm seedlings provided for Ngor Okpala which he has used to demonstrate his power of industrial and agricultural revolution in the LGA.

He maintained that palm seedlings have been planted to add to what is available at ADAPALM Obokwe in view of the Governor’s initiative for a mechanised industrial farming.

He said Ngor Okpala has already donated more lands to to enable industrial milling so that the State, through the local government, could be a rich home of palm oil produce.

He, however pleaded with the Governor to do more for Ngor Okpala Youths in respect of empowerment and employment as their expectations are high.

Governor Uzodinma on his part, praised the people of Ngor Okpala for being with him before and after election, and presently in this time of governance.

The Governor sought the indulgence and cooperation of Ngor Okpala people to work together with him to deliver desired governance to the people.

He said Ngor Okpala is the largest LGA in Imo State in terms of land mass and should be divided into two or three LGAs if it is within his powers.

Governor Uzodinma noted that the Ulakwo – Imerienwe – Umuekwune Road is an economic route and needs to be given urgent attention adding that he had sent delegates to assess the road few weeks ago, promising that construction work will commence there as soon as possible.

•Governor Uzodimma with the visiting leaders and stakeholders of Ikeduru and Ngor Okpala LGAs, on Tuesday