Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, says that the Owerri Central Market Complex when completed will attract businessmen and women from across the country and beyond.
He said this during the ground breaking ceremony of the market project at Umuohiadagu, Umualum in Nekede area of Owerri.
President Obasanjo who was the special guest of honour at the epoch making event, was confident that the money invested in the project will be recouped through profit from the investment.
He described Owerri as the Eastern Heartland of the nation and maintained that with the assurances the Governor had given to the team, “the promoters can now go out in full force to look for investors who will bring money for the development.”
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State thanked the former President for continuously having the interest of the country at heart and for the support he has always shown to Imo State, through successive governments.
Governor Uzodimma said that the Owerri Central Market Complex will be a source of blessing to Imo State and Nigeria at large when completed.
The Governor regretted that the construction of the Market Complex was stalled for a very long time as a result of many challenges, including illegal balkanization of the land.
He disclosed that a commission of inquiry was set up which led to the recovery of the land, noting that going forward, the government will play its role not to betray the confidence of those who have elected to invest in the project.
The Governor further noted that the project is a product of Foreign Direct Investment, where the investors are coming to invest in the project, and called on the government and people of Imo State to provide an enabling environment for them.
He said the project when completed will be an opportunity to create jobs, wealth, harmony, unity and development for the State and Nigeria at large.
Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chike Olemgbe, Senators Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Owerri zone), Patrick Ndubueze (Okigwe Zone), former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Majority Leader of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Dele Onyemaechi, Deputy Chairman, South of APC, Chief Emma Enukwu, Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze EC Okeke, top government officials, captains of industries, heads of religious bodies in Imo State, were among those who attended the event.