By CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI — Imo State government has said arrangement was in top gear to construct a multi-million Naira state- of-the-art diagnostic centre, in collaboration with Israeli authorities, to take care of the growing cases of renal failure in the state.

Governor Rochas Okorocha, who disclosed this when he played host to members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors at Government House, Owerri, also said his administration was contemplating the establishment of an international conference centre.

“Government is contemplating the establishment of one of the best international conference centres in the country. We have also acquired a 637-hectare piece of land,” Okorocha said.

The governor debunked the rumour that his administration had borrowed a staggering sum of N200 billion from commercial banks to finance capital projects.

“I attribute my accomplishments in the past three years to my resolve to move the state forward through selfless service, effective and judicious utilisation of available resources,” Okorocha explained.

The governor disclosed that Imo Palm Plantation had been revived and resuscitated, netting in N3.2 billion monthly into the government’s coffers, while the Standard Shoe Industry, Owerri, had bounced back to business, producing shoes for pupils and students.

Okorocha, who enumerated some of his achievements to his guests, equally justified the establishment of the contentious Imo Security Network.

“The outfit, which is working jointly with security agencies in the state, had helped to drastically reduce kidnapping and other serious crimes in the state.” Okorocha said.

He threw his weight behind the agitation for the establishment of state police in the country, pointing out that the issues of terrorism, kidnapping and Boko Haram insurgency should be left in the hands of the state police to tackle.

Speaking earlier, the National President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Mr. Femi Adesina, told the governor that they were in Owerri to hold their standing committee meeting, which holds in different parts of the country.

Adesina pleaded for payment of pension and gratuities to retired staff of both Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) and Imo Newspapers Ltd.