The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma said his administration has constructed over three hundred rural roads in the State under a World Bank assisted programme for State governments in Nigeria.
This was as the State Government settled a long standing debt of N1. 6 billion to recover Imo Standard Shoe factory from years of takeover from Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) on Friday.
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Governor Uzodinma made this known shortly after meeting with the Country Representative of the World Bank in Nigeria, Shubaham Chaudhuri in Abuja on Friday.
Uzodinma hinted further that the World Bank is providing assistance in several other areas of needs in Imo State which include health care services and erosion control, stressing that the State Government is delighted to partner with the bank.
Imo State is among the few other states in Nigeria that qualified for the World Bank assisted programme.
The State was selected after a careful and thorough evaluation and assessment of its policies and programmes by the world financial institution.
Speaking earlier, the Country Representative of the World Bank, Shubaham Chaudhuri explained that the meeting with Governor Uzodinma was aimed at finalizing arrangements on new areas the bank could be of assistance to the State to improve the people’s standard of living.
The World bank is an international development organization owned by 187 countries, helping to reduce poverty by lending money to the government of its poorer members.
The World bank gesture towards Imo State government came in form of loans and technical advice.
Meanwhile, after years of insolvency and takeover, the Governor on Friday secured Clearance Certificate from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria to revive the Imo Standard Shoe factory.
Speaking shortly after signing the papers, Uzodinma said the factory was recovered by the State government after settling a prolonged debt of N1.6 billion owed by previous administrations and management of the company.
He said job creation remains the most viable means to tackle insecurity in Nigeria, promising that his administration will not relent in its efforts to create greater opportunities for the people.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
