According to The Sun News, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has accused former administrations of mismanaging the state and leaving behind a massive debt burden of ₦292 billion, which he claimed was the financial situation he inherited upon assuming office in 2020. During a recent interview in Lagos, Uzodimma stated that under his leadership, the state’s debt has been slashed to under N100 million, making Imo financially stable and capable of engaging with global institutions such as the World Bank. He noted that the heavy debts accumulated by past governments initially restricted his administration’s ability to secure project funding.
He further alleged that insecurity in Imo, especially during his first term, was largely orchestrated by his predecessors, election losers, and separatist groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN), who he said contributed significantly to the rise in violence and instability in the state.
Uzodimma described the state of decay he met in 2020, claiming that both public and essential private infrastructure had collapsed. He recalled that by the time he took office, most roads, including major and inner routes, were in deplorable condition. The Government House was uninhabitable, and the state secretariat was in ruins, making it impossible for civil servants to work effectively. He said the lack of basic amenities, including potable water, painted a grim picture of total neglect. According to him, his immediate predecessor, Emeka Ihedioha, couldn’t live in the Government House throughout his seven-month tenure due to its dilapidated condition.
Uzodimma recounted starting work from the guest chalet, which he had to refurbish himself to create a functional office. He described the Executive Council chamber as being in such poor shape that it resembled a market stall. His administration eventually rebuilt and restored the Government House and began a strategic assessment of the road network across Owerri. Key projects such as the Owerri-Orlu, Okigwe, and Owerri-Umuahia roads were prioritised. Today, he said, those roads stand as visible proof of the progress made. Within a short span, his government constructed 120 durable roads and revived the Owerri water scheme, which began functioning again within six months.
He highlighted reforms in the civil service, stating that it was previously dysfunctional but has since been overhauled and streamlined. Since 2020, he said, salaries have been paid consistently every month without interruption. He also noted a progressive increase in the minimum wage from ₦18,000 to ₦30,000, later raised to ₦40,000 and most recently to ₦70,000. Additionally, he revealed ongoing plans to adjust the salaries of teachers and workers in critical sectors.
The governor described the insecurity that plagued the state from 2020 as being politically motivated. He claimed that individuals who lost in the elections and failed to legitimise their fraudulent activities resorted to instigating unrest, hoping to trigger a state of emergency, an attempt he said ultimately failed.
He also pointed out that although Imo hosts seven oil-producing firms, none of them maintain offices within the state. According to him, these companies operate from Lagos and Port Harcourt, only visiting Imo to carry out their business before leaving again. When confronted, the companies cited the lack of suitable accommodation. In response, Uzodimma said his
He said, “I met a ₦292 billion debt in 2020, and as of today, we have reduced the debt to less than ₦100 million so that the state can become solvent to be able to discuss credit with international organisations.”
What sets us apart from some of our predecessors is that we assumed office with a clear vision and a well-defined agenda. Back in 2020, the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was under N400 million per month. However, as things stand today, we are generating nearly ₦4 billion monthly. We have drastically reduced revenue leakages to the barest level. One major step we took was halting the use of consultants for government revenue collection. Instead, we implemented a unified treasury account system, ensuring that all revenue streams, both formal and informal, are now fully automated.
