AfriPulse
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has expressed plans to ensure that each household experiences the impact of the various activities lined up to transform the economy in 2026.
Uzodimma while addressing residents in the state in a new year message on Thursday, highlighted his Administration’s focus for 2026 to include health, agriculture, education, and food security.
“Our target is to resolutely pursue growth in power, health, agriculture, education, and food security.
“We intend to transform the Imo economy in a way that translates more concretely to every household,” he said.
Such a transformation, the governor said, stemmed from his administration’s ability to restore relative calm to the state in 2025, compared with previous years when insecurity crippled parts of its ecosystem.
He said, “For us in Imo, 2026 is the year our foundations yield a massive harvest. However, as we enjoy the peace and tranquillity that now pervades our landscape, we must work consciously to sustain it.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that there are still those who are unhappy with the progress of our state; perennial enemies of growth who may try to take us back to darker years.
“Our target is to resolutely pursue growth in power, health, agriculture, education, and food security. We intend to transform the Imo economy in a way that translates more concretely to every household.”
To further optimise the safety of lives and properties in the state, the governor urged residents to remain vigilant, thus reporting any suspicious activity to the security agencies immediately.
The governor further highlighted the various achievements by his administration, particularly in the past year — one he described as having commenced “with an aggressive push for legacy infrastructure”.
“Like most of you, it gladdens my heart to see our people enjoying the newly launched Heartland Resort Park.
“Beyond being a premier leisure destination, this beach-style recreation hub along the Nworie River corridor, which opened on 20 December 2025, represents our reclaimed right to peace.
“Yet, this resort is only one piece in a spectrum of concrete achievements that defined the past year.
“We began 2025 with an aggressive push for legacy infrastructure. By late September, the skyline of Owerri changed forever when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the Assumpta twin flyovers.
“This project has finally unblocked the busiest choke point in the city, easing traffic and announcing a new era in urban renewal.
“We also saw the commissioning of the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre (EIICC) on 30 September 2025.
“This world-class facility has restored our status as a premier convention destination.
“Alongside this, we delivered the rebuilt Owerri–Mbaise–Obowo–Umuahia corridor, a project that has re-established our regional connectivity,” Uzodimma stated.
In the area of welfare, the governor recalled that in August 2025, his administration raised the minimum wage for state civil servants from N70,000 to N104,000, describing it as “the most audacious sub-national wage decision in the country.”
He admitted that the decision was a direct response to the economic pressures facing workers in the state.
Uzodimma further added that he “approved the release of N16 billion to pay another batch of long-standing gratuity arrears.
“By doing so, we have taken yet another crucial step toward clearing decades of liabilities, ensuring our senior citizens receive the dignity they earned through years of service.
“Our focus on the future was equally reflected in the SkillUp Imo programme. On 10 October 2025, we graduated 10,000 youths in Cohort 3, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 50,000 young Imo people trained in software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, and fintech.
“To anchor this talent, the National Universities Commission approved the Imo State University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma. This institution will serve as the engine room for our digital city and innovation hubs.”
Source: TheWhistler | Read the Full Story…
