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Obasanjo commissions Owerri Central Market Complex
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State have commissioned the Owerri Central Market Complex, describing it as a blessing to Imo State and Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who arrived in the state to grace the occasion, expressed confidence in the project’s potential to attract investors and create jobs, wealth, and development.
The former president made the remarks on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the market project at Umuohiadagu Umualum in the Nekede area of Owerri.
He said: “The Owerri Central Market Complex has been planned to attract businessmen and women from across the country and beyond.
“It will create jobs, wealth, harmony, unity, and development for Imo State and Nigeria at large.”
Obasanjo commended the governor for his efforts to develop Imo State and expressed confidence in the project’s potential to recoup investments through profit. “The money invested will be recouped through profit from the investment,” he said.
He described Owerri as the Eastern Heartland and recalled how Nigerian troops, under his command during the Nigeria/ Biafra war, needed to conquer Owerri, to conclusively bring the civil war which he said was necessary to unite the country, to an end.
Speaking, the Governor appreciated Obasanjo’s support for Imo State and promised to provide an enabling environment for the project’s success.
“We will encourage you to climb. Don’t be afraid, we will support you,” he told the project’s promoter, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu.
“This market will be a source of blessing to Imo State and Nigeria at large when completed,” Governor Uzodimma said at the ground-breaking ceremony.
The Governor regretted that the construction of the Owerri Central Market Complex was stalled for a very long time as a result of many challenges, including illegal balkanization of the land.
He said in the wisdom of the government, a Commission of enquiry 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.
In their separate but similar remarks, Nze Chukwu, the promoter of the project and the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, Barr. Rex Anunobi thanked Governor Uzodimma for his untiring effort to see Imo State experience development in all areas and expressed confidence that the Owerri Central Market Complex would change the business and commercial outlook of Imo State when completed.
Other dignitaries at the occasion, including the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru; Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chike Olemgbe; Senators Ezenwa Onyewuchi; and Patrick Ndubueze, expressed support for the project and appreciation for Governor Uzodimma’s development efforts.
News
At last, Tinubu sacks five ministers, makes seven fresh nomination
By Francesca Hangeior.
At last, president Bola Tinubu has reshuffle his cabinet appointing seven new ministers.
This development is coming few months after growing calls for the President to rejig his cabinet.
In a statement issued by the presidency after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, president Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
The president on Wednesday, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC), announced the sack of Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.
Tinubu subsequently nominated Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, while Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, officially bringing an end to the tenure of suspended Betta Edu.
The President also nominated Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as the Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly created Livestock Development Ministry, Yusuf Ata as the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, with Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State Education.
Earlier on Wednesday, the President scrapped the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development and announced the Ministry of Regional Development as a replacement to oversee the activities of all the regional development commissions.
The regional development commissions to be under the supervision of the new Ministry are the Niger Delta Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, the North East Development and the North West Development Commission.
Tinubu also scrapped the Ministry of Sports Development and transferred its functions to the National Sports Commission to “develop a vibrant sports economy”.
The President further approved the merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.
“The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports
Commission.
“The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the president on Public Communication and Orientation working from the ministry of Information and National Orientation,” the President said.
The President appreciated the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their
future endeavours.
He then charged the newly appointed ministers as well as their reassigned colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.
He added that all appointees must understand the administration’s eagerness and determination to set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth and invest the best of their abilities into the actualisation of the government’s priorities.
It could be recalled that Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration.
The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while another, Simon Lalong, moved to the Senate.
There have been growing calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians are not impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.
In September, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President would reshuffle his cabinet but didn’t give a time to the reorganisation.
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