By Chidi Nkwopara

The process of being transformed into an emerging modern city is in  top gear in Orlu, a hitherto forgotten town in Imo state. The urgency attached to the execution of the infrastructural projects in this town is most attractive. A visit to the city today will reveal construction of both highway and street roads,  Orlu Garden Park and the Orlu City Gate.

Apart from Imo State Government, another name that can rightly be associated with Orlu’s transformation is Messrs Timik Consult Ltd., an engineering company. This firm has played a very prominent role in the execution of works initiated by Gov. Rochas Okorocha in the area.

Governor Rochas Okorocha had at his 2012 State Budget address termed State of the Imo Address,  noted that “the potentials of the state were shut in, owing to the absence of an extensive network of roads to support the process of transformation”.

According to him, the cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe have continued to reel under the neglect of roads within these towns thus making vehicular movement very inconvenient to commuters.

“Although, remarkable efforts have been made since this administration came on board to repair the roads and open up new ones, it is expected that in the year 2012, over 400 kilometers of roads will be constructed in the state”, Okorocha said.

Orlu wearing a new look

He stated that the daulization of the entry routes to Orlu from Banana junction (Amaifeke) to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital and that of  Okigwe, which were ongoing projects, would be completed.

A gigantic 87-meter spam City Gate, described as the largest modern city gate is under  construction at Orlu.  The gate is intended to give a spectacular view of the entry into the new face of Orlu town.

The City Gate spans across two highways being constructed by Timik Consult Limited. The highways are the  six-lane Orlu-Owerri Road and Old Owerri Road with a large space in between.

Vanguard Homes & Property  which visited the emerging Orlu last week, saw a lot of completed and ongoing projects. The old order has started changing and very fast too. It was evident from what is on ground that the once sagging image of Orlu would soon be a thing of the past.

Managing Director of the construction firm, Mr. Goke Anjorin explained that a lot of demolition and clearing works, which opened up the town for development, were carried out by his firm.

According to him, one of the Governor Okorocha’s buildings was demolished in the process. “The Governor allowed his building to be demolished as an example that no single individual or group could be above the law or constitute a barrier to the desperately needed infrastructural development of Orlu town,” he asserted.

While commending the Governor for “the initiative to engage local contractors in the development of the area”, Anjorin equally explained that his company conceptualized the emerging Orlu City, which was bought over by Governor Okorocha.

He noted that given the opportunity and the necessary financial backings, indigenous contractors would perform very well and deliver on time. According to him, the driving force behind the new face of Orlu is vision and drive for development.

Presently, a lot of road constructions are taking place in Orlu.  Anjorin posited that that infrastructures should not be left until they go too bad before the government comes in.

“There should do proper monitoring and evaluation of projects and feed back by resident engineers from time to time. Awarding contracts to only foreign firms will not help in capacity building. Project management skills is lacking on the side of indigenous contractors. Employing expatriates to join indigenous companies to help out in projects will ensure quicker transfer of technology,” he said.

Among the completed and on-going works in Orlu includes a stretch of 1.5km of the Federal highway from the popular Banana Junction to Nkwo-Ito Junction, which is near completion. There is also a 6.22km stretch of six-lane expressway from Nkume Y-Junction to Banana Junction; Timik’s biggest ongoing project.