By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State Government has suspended the construction of new projects, including roads in the 2010 fiscal year. The state will also scale down the continuation and/or completion of on-going projects.

Governor Ikedi Ohakim, who made the disclosure in his 2010 budget proposal tagged “budget of renewal,” however, said that the embargo will not affect Owerri Metropolis.

He said that the budget was anchored on “cost cutting, embargo on new projects, including roads except in Owerri metropolis, scaling down, continuation and/or completion of on-going projects.”

On how his administration would tackle next year, the Governor said “some ailing government owned industries like Nsu Tile and Pottery Factory, Ehime Mbano, Clay Industries, Ezinnachi and Avutu Poultry would be repackaged for full private/public partnership or outright privatization.

“Government will establish a marching fund in partnership with Bank of Industry, to provide micro finance to small scale and medium scale enterprise as a special way of promoting rapid industrial growth of the state,” Ohakim said.

Noting that to actualize this dream, a fund of N500 million would  be set aside for this purpose. The Governor promised that government would also embark on massive rehabilitation of public utilities.

“The Owerri Water Scheme will be refurbished in line with our determination to make Owerri our flagship city. More solar-powered street lights will be installed in different locations within the state capital to give it a serene look at night,” Ohakim said