Imo Diaspora commends Uzodimma over Diaspora Estate, Layout

The political pressure group, under the aegis of Imo Diaspora Support for Senator Hope Uzodinma 2019, has commended the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma over the plan by his administration to establish a Diaspora Estate / Layout which would be mapped out to accommodate those who fall under such class in the state.
The convener of the group worldwide, which has its headquarters in Finland, Chief Nnanna Okere in a statement made available to newsmen from his base in Finland said as a Diaspora organization, the group would mobilize members from across Europe to key into the project.

He commended the governor on the plan to provide subventions in terms of land acquisition for the establishment of industry in the state by the Diaspora. He added that this would aid the prospective Diaspora investor in the importation of equipment and expertise resource persons and as well help reduce unemployment rate.

He said that the governor deserved commendation for making efforts to address the abuse of government land allocation in the state. This is even as he also noted the commendable role of the commissioner for the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu, who is ensuring the successful execution of the ongoing land reforms in the state.

The governor of Imo State was also commended for his development plans for the three municipal cities in the state which are, Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. He is particularly happy over the administration’s approval of the establishment of a Civil Servants Housing Scheme at Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe to cater for the housing needs of civil servants.

He hailed Governor Hope Uzodimma for enthroning transparency in governance, which includes but not limited to reforms on land matters. He noted that the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on land matters, headed by Justice Duruoha Igwe, was instituted by the ousted administration however, the government of Uzodimma wisely allowed the commission to continue the enquiry for continuity. He added that the report has been submitted and the ministry is awaiting government white paper on it for onward implementation to ensure restoration of public confidence in government and also attract investors.

He observed that in furtherance of the reform on land matters, a computerization exercise is ongoing in the ministry to digitalize the process and system of land matters, adding that this is the right step in the right direction.

Chief Okere, who is the leader of the group that vigorously campaigned for the election of Hope Uzodimma, when many doubters did not give Uzodimma a chance in 2019 said that he gathered that after the digitization, a recertification process would be carried out in order to have a comprehensive index of privately owned lands. He said that this type of reform was what was lacking in the past and had hindered investment in the sector.

He also commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for instituting a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in the creation of layouts, adding that under this arrangement, the former process of building and handing over to allottees as was obtained during the administration of former Governor Sam Mbakwe of blessed memory, would be expunged to pave way for beneficiaries to develop their allocated plots according to the plan. He was particularly happy to note that government would ensure infrastructural provision such as road, connection to electricity national grid and to the state water supply, etc.

Okere also expressed the group’s support for Uzodinma in his desire to enthrone transparency and accountability and as such, the land allocation would be publicised and all process shall be carried out online via a website that would be made public when the time comes and one can monitor applications. He noted that the previous arrangement where one person gets more than one plot and government appointees advantaged than others has been abrogated by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He also commended the seamless process, which would ensure that all land allocated up to the issuance of certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) are not delayed, adding that this is a milestone record as against the previous analogue system of application and processing lasting up to five years.