Who will save Imo State?

 Citizens of Imo State must take notice that the our state ranks near the bottom in all important indices of socio-economic development despite the leader’s grandiose schemes and appearances and despite all the tall tales that we are told by propagandists. It is time to shine our eyes to the findings of the Eastern Nigeria […]

 Citizens of Imo State must take notice that the our state ranks near the bottom in all important indices of socio-economic development despite the leader’s grandiose schemes and appearances and despite all the tall tales that we are told by propagandists. It is time to shine our eyes to the findings of the Eastern Nigeria Governance Tour by development consultant Bamikole Oluwafemi Adeleye, which were published recently.   

In all indices of doing business, Imo state ranks extremely low out of 36 states. In the ease of starting a business Imo State ranks number 31 in the whole federation. In dealing with construction permits, we rank number 34 among 36 states and FCT. Imo State’s standing with respect to other indices are: registering a property (27) and enforcing contracts (34). At a time when the state government led by Governor Rochas Okorocha claims that it is attracting investors to the state, how can any of these indices incentivize any serious investor to Imo state? Nor are there any reforms in Imo state to rectify these inadequacies, as far as we know.

Imo State’s national ranking in health care provision is also dismal. According to the report, quality of infrastructure in the sector i.e. hospitals and equipment is very poor. Quality of health care is also adjudged poor while affordability of health care is rated very poor. The number of doctors and medical personnel in relation to the population is rated poor while health workers’ general welfare is rated very poor. Things are only slightly better in the education sector, where the same study rates quality of education reform as very poor; quality of infrastructure as average; affordability of public schools as very good; access to education as average and equality in opportunities as good.

The indices for infrastructure, specifically roads, are also very challenging. Road design in Imo State is rated poor, though access and road networks are rated good. Quality of road construction is rated very poor; transparency of the procurement process is rated very poor while Imo State’s citizens getting value for their money is rated very poor. Also dismal are social welfare indices in the state. The study rates improved wellbeing as poor; quality of life for citizens and their overall health as average; while poverty reduction schemes are rated poor and social welfare schemes are rated very poor.

In the agriculture sector, where a lot of the state’s citizens are engaged, the study rates access to land as poor; road access to farmlands and markets as very poor; access to capital and to government programs and incentives i.e. subsidies for small farmers as very poor while programs to improve farmers’ skills and agricultural methods were rated very poor. Nor did Imo State fare very well in anti-corruption indices. The state government’s transparency in doing business was rated very poor; bureaucratic process including bribery and brazenness in extorting the public was high and the state got a poor rating; whereas it recorded a high in impunity and a very poor public perception index. 

This is a dismal record by any standard despite a leadership that is flamboyant, makes empty promises and brags about its so-called achievements. Imo State needs urgent rescue.

Duruamaku Wilson Okanume.