…. As PEBEC, SABER ends town hall meeting in Owerri
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has opened up that some of the strategic revolutionary reforms, his Shared Prosperity and 3R administrative mantra administration have done in the areas of digitalization of business registrations, improved land registration administrations, construction of network of roads, power and energy, air transportation, job creations, health, education, good, visionary and welfare oriented governance, micro small and medium scale enterprises among other socioeconomic reforms have made the Eastern Heartland State investments and investors friendly.
Uzodimma disclosed this on Thursday while flagging off 2025 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC Nationwide to Imo State/ SABER Technical Session And Statewide Town Hall Meeting held at a prestigious hotel in Owerri, and was ably represented by the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru.
The Governor pointed out that there are some State Actions on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) projects which his administration embarked upon that have positioned the state on robust and speedy economic development.
“We have equally prioritised efficiency and transparency through the State Investment Promotion Agency, (SIPA), making it easier for business men and women to interact with the Government.
“This effort alone earned the state government a reward of N6.8 billion from the World Bank in 2024”.
Uzodimma also informed that his administration have undertaken many infrastructural development projects, ensuring smooth business investment in the State, even as security of the State has greatly improved, restoring the confidence of investors in the State.
He insisted that, “the provision of patrol vans to the police with other logistics support to all the security agents in the State and the collaboration with community policing and vigilante have helped to restore the security of the State, building confidence on both local and international investors.
“Because of the return of peace and stability in the State, the hospitality businesses are favourably competing with other sectors. Owerri is today, considered as the Hospitality Capital of Nigeria because of the vibrant nightlife, robust entertainment businesses, peace in the State and its proximity to all South Eastern and South Southern States.
“We have also invested in the education of our people, giving them opportunities to making informed business decisions” he stated.
The governor expressed happiness that through the SkillUp Imo, more than 40,000 Imo youths have been trained in digital skills and equipped with the necessary facilities.
“Many of them are today, employed in Information Technology, IT companies, while others are burgeoning entrepreneurs”.
He noted that the State health facilities are not left out, saying apart from the rehabilitation of the 305 Health Centers and the 27 General Hospitals, his administration have also constructed three world class ultra modern hospitals at Oguta, Oru East and Ohaji.
According to him, “with our efforts, the Federal Medical Center,(FMC) Owerri was upgraded to a Federal University Teaching Hospital status, all with the view of granting the people access to quality healthcare and reducing the rate of traveling overseas for treatment, thereby, saving money in return.
“Again, the Imo-Care Health Insurance Scheme which is free for all Imolites has made citizens to save some monies channeled into various businesses that have helped to boost the State and national economy”.
Uzodimma reiterated that the State industrial policies are focused on creating a friendly business environment for living, investment and business, even as the State Government also offers incentives like tax waiver, fast track permits, land allocation and security, as well as support for sectors like Agro-Industry, Oil and Gas, Digital Economy and Real Estate.
While declaring the national event open, he further observed that these policies make the State attractive for investors, stressing that with political stability, good infrastructure, and strategic location as the State have now, as well as quality roads connecting major markets and other States, Imo State is on the rise again.
Earlier, in his address of welcome, Imo State Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy, Hon.Chuck Chuckuemeka, described the programme as an interventionist program organized in collaboration with World Bank, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, PEBEC,Debt Management Office and the Ministry of Finance so as to encourage the growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Scale businesses in the various States of the Federation.
Chuckwuemeka stated that the five partnering organizations came together to form State Action Business Enabling Reforms, SABER as they strategically put up various developmental reforms for each State to follow.
He noted that these strategic reforms are performance based, in terms of The Reforcement Linked Indicators,TLI which he informed is the main assessment criteria, justifying States compliance and warrants earning reasonable funding from the development partners as a way of motivating State governments in their continuous efforts in encouraging the growth, improvement and developmental sustenance of business activities, in their States.
The Commissioner expressed happiness that during the maiden assessment and disbursement on the basis of the SABER criteria, that Imo State was among the first 4 States in the Federation that scored 100%.
“Meaning that those reforms needed to attract the benefits, that Imo State was totally and absolutely in compliance, which prompted the State to earn $4m last year. This is no mean feat.
“However, this is after the yearly assessment of performances of States in the federation, you may not know how well your State performed, until almost a year later after the performance assessment is done.
“Interestly, Imo State since the last assessment have embarked in a lot of contemporary but strategic reforms, like digitalization of land records, improvement in business environment, good network of roads, extension of runway with night landing facilities at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, OKOBI community one business initiatives, and also improvement in ease of doing businesses in the State like security stability, digitalization of the State tax system etc.
“Honestly, Imo State has been thriving in meaningful socioeconomic reforms, these have triggered alot of new investors coming to the State to basically invest and do businesses like Johnpaul, Madcom and Hilton groups among litany of others” the Commissioner informed.
Chuckuemeka reassured that, with what happened during the programme, that the ranking of Imo State will come out better when compared with other States, just as he recalled that from their previous survey, Imo State came 31st from their to 11th and then 13th, but certainly with the developmental and transformational initiatives, the State is at the verge of earning impressive rating.
Speaking to news men, Mr. Gabriel Ohiemi, Reform leader from the PEBEC Secretariat, described the programme as a sub national tour with stakeholders engagement, saying that the first session which was technical in nature witnessed assistance of resource persons from PEBEC Secretariat and the participants responded appropriately on how best to move the State forward while the afternoon session is a total engagement from the private sectors with panel discussions, that exhumed a lot of facts concerning reforms on going in the State and for the overall interest of the populace.
Ohiemi revealed that, It’s a $750m SABER programme that’s been ignited by PEBEC Secretariat, Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office and with the motivational funding coming from the World Bank.
He lamented that the funds are under utilized and assessed, noting their commitments in encouraging States to do the needfuls so as to seamlessly assess the funds once they meet up with the needed criteria as stated by the development partners and World Bank.
“The criteria is for deepening of reforms especially in harmonization of taxes, improvement in easy of doing businesses, access to digital economy, infact, reforms that are geared towards the ease of doing businesses in the State and sub national”.
He passionately advised Imo State to continue on the parts of the reforms so as to remain investors friendly, in terms of continual improvement in the ease of doing businesses and attraction of investments.
The team leader further gave kudos to Imo State for her commitment towards implementation of the socioeconomic reforms that have led to a lot of improvements in the State’s socioeconomic activities and enjoined them not to relent especially in digitalization of land and tax assessments.
