IFAD, FG eye Imo State to site special agro-industrial processing zone project 

Dikachi  Franklin
Owerri

Hope of unemployment reduction is building up in Imo State and signals for job opportunities are rife with the  coming of the African Development Bank (AFDB), International Fund for African Development(IFAD)  in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria to build Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Project in Okigwe in Imo State.

Already Imo State has been identified as one over 200 trillion cubic feet gas deposit,  the largest in West Africa and the federal government has created   a commission , called the National Gas Expansion Commission which would among other things train , equip and ensure that human capacity is developed  and jobs created  in the gas sector.

Also,  a firm called Imo- China Investment and Trade Centre is working assiduously with the Chinese Company to establish a multi billion naira industrial zone in a place called China Town  in Imo State.

The joint efforts  of the African Development  Bank, the International Fund for African Development and the Federal Government to set up Special Agro -Industrial Proceeding Zone Project was disclosed  in Owerri during  the visit of the team led by Richard Mbamara to the,  governor,  Hope Uzodimma.

According to  Mbamara,  the essence of the visit  was to see for themselves,  the available infrastructural facilities  in the state which would help to qualify Imo for the siting of the project.

Already,  the team had visited the Sam  Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and was satisfied with what they saw on ground.

Meanwhile, Chiedozie Egesi,  the lead Consultant  of the project said “the team  has made some significant milestones having identified things it will focus on which include the Cargo  Terminal at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport.”.

Egesi also disclosed their plans to visit some privately owned poultry farms in NgorOkpala and the  livestock processing hub at Okigwe  where they hope  to  “establish dairy industry  in an integrated place where  the Mission of the Bank -the Feed Africa Team will be met”.