‘Oguta/Orashi dredging, game changer for Uzodimma, Imo’

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo yesterday said the plan to dredge the Oguta/Orashi River is an economically transformative project and a game changer for the state.

He spoke in Oguta at the flag-off of the hydrographic survey and dredging of Oguta Lake and Orashi River to Degema in Rivers State up to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The Federal Government will support the Imo State Government to bring the dredging of Oguta Lake and Orashi River Development Project to fruition,” Osinbajo said while urging all to join hands to achieve the project.

The Vice President said the project was initiated and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari following several demands by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He said: “The project is to revive the economic channels and enhance coastal connectivity and ensure security on the stretch of the two rivers opening up to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The project, when realised, will offer economic opportunities to the host communities, Imo State and Nigeria in general.”

He reminded the audience that the President has approved a Free Trade Zone that will leverage the large gas carbon deposit in the area.

Osinbajo commended the foresight and political pragmatism of Uzodimma and reiterated that “the project will not have been possible without Mr. President’s approval and Governor Uzodimma’s foresight,” describing it as a game changer for the governor.

He said the project is a “unique one that comes with its economic transformation, opening Imo as a gateway to other West African countries.”

Uzodimma expressed gratitude to President Buhari whom he said “God used to make the day possible.”

He thanked Mr. President for the approvals to dredge the two rivers, to locate the Naval Base in Imo, to uplift Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri to Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, to make Alvan Ikoku College of Education a Federal University College of Education and to establish Oil Reclamation Programme in the state.

He expressed gratitude to President Buhari “for his support to recover Imo from bandits and hoodlums that terrorised the State.”

Uzodimma said: “The project is for trade and investment, economic transformation and fights against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

“The project will be achieved not with magic but by the miracle of Public Private Partnership (PPP).

“The dredging and opening of the two Rivers to the Atlantic will remove Imo State from being land-locked as it is encapsulated in security and economic development.”

He pointed out that the hydrographic survey and dredging are to determine the mapping and debt of the entire distance from Oguta Lake to the Atlantic.

“The success of the project will bring unquantifiable employment for Imo State, the Southeast and Nigeria at large, this will be followed by the establishment of an Industrial cluster leveraging on the gas deposits and other natural resources in the area.

“In addition, the project will bring about cultural ties between the Southeast and the Southsouth when the security is strengthened and movement becomes seamless,” the governor explained.

Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor commended the governor for pursuing the project, acknowledging that “the overall objective of the project is creating economic and security environment along the river and the communities on the coast.”

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awal Gambo, described the project as a medium for the transportation of goods and services, for curbing criminal activities and for reducing oil theft in the area.

Former Imo Governor Ikedi Ohakim and House of Assembly Speaker Emeka Nduka commended Uzodimma’s efforts and appealed to Ndi Imo to give him maximum support to realise the project and more.

The traditional institutions, represented by the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Onitan; the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe; the Eze Imo, EC Okeke; Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; Eze Oliver Ohanwe and others, commended the governor for a job well done.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, said he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the project and wished the governor well in his plans to achieve its realisation.

Chairman Governing Council of Imo State University and a son of Oguta, Chief Ernest Nwapa, said the project is a reenactment of something that was conceived some 100 years ago and thanked the governor for resurrecting it.

The high point of the event was the formal cutting of the tape by Osinbajo supported by the dignitaries.

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