Imo introduces joint taskforce to fight insurgence in oil communities

From EMEKA NWULU, Owerri

AS an effort to fight restiveness, cultism, armed robbery and militancy in the oil producing communities in Imo State, the governor, Rochas Anayo Okorocha has introduced a joint taskforce comprising the military, Nigeria police, civil defence and other paramilitary security agents in the state.

Addressing a group of media men from the zone called Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta Journalists Association (OOJA), Engr. Kingsley Chima Uju the deputy Chief of Staff to the State Government on Operations told them that government had deemed it fit to return peace to the oil-rich zone and attract foreign and local investors for development in the area.
He stated further that it’s only when peace was allowed by the youths of the area that giant and interrupted development would be experienced.

Uju, who is a son of the area, was appointed by the governor to serve as a Deputy Chief of Staff to the Government said Imo State Oil Producing Development Commission (ISOPADEC) was introduced by former Gov. Udenwa through the approval of the Federal Government to harness the viable mineral resources of the zone and alleviate the people’s alarming poverty and reduce unexpected high standard of living affecting the people, especially the angry youths.

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He recounted that the present administration has been paying over 2.5m monthly for electricity tariff of the oil rich zone by PHCN that up till now noting is been showed for in the power distribution.

He described the situation as an organized fraudulent activities of the company meted against his people but promise to use his powers to stop the payment and reorganize the situation.

Meanwhile assuring the people of total execution of projects lined up by the State Government for the oil zone and ensure the realities reigns.

According to him, the Government is already engaged to build industrial park, cassava floor firm, Agro Allied company, Gas plant petroleum to give the youths employment.
Therefore, he attributed the delay in project execution as youths restiveness and promised that nothing will stop the Government as far as the Gov. is concern from establishing Imo University of Science Technology, sea-port, and other empowerment programmes in the zone.