Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has said his administration reduced the state’s debt profile by 60 per cent, from N259bn in 2020 to N99bn.
Uzodimma disclosed this while addressing stakeholders at the state of Imo address at the State House of Assembly, Owerri, on Tuesday.
According to Uzodimma, the debt reduction was evidence of prudent financial management.
The governor said “I am pleased to report that our administration has also reduced the state’s debt profile from N259bn in 2020 to N99bn in 2025. This reduction of 60 per cent is a clear signal of our prudent financial management.
“In today’s Nigeria, where subnational governments are called to do more with less, Imo is showing that with vision, discipline, and reform, progress is possible.”
He further disclosed that the Internally Generated Revenue had increased by 500 per cent from N400m in 2020 to about N4bn in 2025.
This, he said, allowed the state to invest in infrastructure and services.
Uzodimma said, “The impact is visible: our monthly Internally Generated Revenue has grown from an average of N400m in 2020 to nearly N4bn in 2025, an increase of about 500 per cent.
“This performance gives us the fiscal breathing room to invest in infrastructure and services, even as federal allocations continue to look up.”
The governor further stated that he had no plans of borrowing.
Uzodimma added that the state currently had five higher institutions adding that President Bola Tinubu has approved a take-off grant of N39bn for the newly approved Federal University, Okigwe.
He said, “It gives me great joy to announce that Imo State has a brand new federal university. Thanks to the magnanimity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who not only signed the bill establishing the Federal University, Okigwe, into law but also approved a take-off grant of N39bn. This is no small feat. With this development, Imo now proudly hosts five public universities, an unprecedented milestone in our educational journey. We give God all the glory.”
He also said the state has a new transport chain, known as the Imo Heartland Mass Transit Programme, which will commence in the coming weeks.
He said this is aimed at “improving mobility, reducing travel costs, and creating jobs.” He added, “The transport scheme will have three bus terminals located at Egbu Road, Onitsha Road, and Naze Road, along with 256 bus stops strategically placed across the state.”
He said terminals and shelters are also being constructed.
Other achievements, he mentioned, are the full automation of the civil service and its operations – to stamp out fraud and ease service delivery; training and retraining of staff with modern-day work skills; prompt payment of salaries and pension; uploading backlog merited promotions.
The governor also boasted that his administration has constructed more roads than all previous administrations since 1999.
He said, “Our commitment to infrastructure remains resolute. Today, Imo boasts of one of the most extensive and impactful road networks in Nigeria. Without sounding immodest, we have constructed more roads than all previous administrations since 1999, combined.
“To date, we have completed over 120 roads across the state. In the past 18 months alone, we delivered 37 brand new roads, an iconic edifice, the International Conference Center and a befitting Government Housing Annex Orlu. We also have the Assumpta Flyover and the new Concorde-Hilton Hotel as landmark legacy projects.”
Some of the new roads listed were Toronto – Orji Road, Naze-Ogbosisi Road, Orlu – Nkume-Umuowa Road, Oru West LGA Road, Mgbidi-Omuma-Okporo Road, Amiri- Omuma Road, Ihialla -St Joseph_Eziachi Road, Okwudor-Awo omamma Road, Toronto-Ekemmegbuoha Road, Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia road, IMSUTH road Orlu, Alaba International Market, Orlu–Akokwa–Uga Road (19.2km) and several others.
Other achievements listed by Uzodimma are in health, sports, women’s affairs and social welfare, digital economy and e-governance, the Light-Up Imo project (electricity), housing, restoration of lands illegally diverted, amongst others.
The governor declared that Imo was safe as the government had clamped down on criminals and those instigated by politicians.
With the support of the Federal Government and security agencies, he asserted that the state holds the position of the hospitality capital of the South-East.
Uzodimma said, “As the Chief Security Officer of the state, I have never taken this responsibility lightly. You are all aware of the troubling period when our state was targeted by politically motivated insecurity, marked by banditry, violence, and lawlessness. But we did not fold our arms. We acted, resolutely and collaboratively.
“Through sustained partnership with the federal government and security agencies, we have steadily reclaimed the peace of Imo. I am pleased to report that the state capital, Owerri, has hosted several national and international conferences in the past year, without any incidents. That is no coincidence; rather it is the fruit of deliberate effort. Imo is returning to its rightful place as the hospitality capital of the South East.”
He called on everyone to join hands with his government in building the state
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