The World Bank has doled out financial reward, totalling four million US dollars (N6.8 billion), to the Imo Government for promoting good governance and accountability in the ease of doing business.
The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Mr Declan Emelumba, announced this at a press conference in Owerri
on Wednesday.
Emelumba said that Imo was among the four states in the country that qualified for the reimbursement under the World Bank’s State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme for Nigeria.
According to him, the states were assessed under efficiency of land administration, regulatory framework for private investment in fiber optic infrastructure, services provided by investment promotion agencies and the efficiency and transparency of government-to-business services in the participating states.
He said that the state excelled in the four criteria, which qualified it to be rewarded with the largesse for the consolidation of its programmes.
He described the award as a “testament to the government’s commitment to progressive governance, economic empowerment and sustainable development”.
Emelumba said that under the focused administration of Gov. Hope Uzodimma, the state implemented firm policy initiatives to improve land administration, enabling seamless land registration and boosting land-based investments.
“Through transparent governance, Uzodimma has boosted the confidence of investors in the state, especially in the area of digital connectivity.
“Contrary to the submissions of critics of the government, Uzodimma has been working very hard, interacting with investors within and outside Nigeria to buy into the investment opportunities available in the state.
The commissioner said that Imo had made giant strides in strengthening its investment promotion agencies to ensure that they attracted the best investors to the state.
He expressed happiness that by prioritising efficiency and transparency in government to business services, the state had engendered a culture of accountability in its relationships with relevant stakeholders.
He commended the governor for providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state, which attracted the attention of the world bank.
He said that the government’s achievements in the SABER programme of the World Bank were a confirmation of the governor’s leadership initiatives aimed at making Imo the investment hub in Nigeria.
The commissioner said that the fund would be utilised to further advance key reforms and reinvest in infrastructure, including offering support to micro, small and medium-size enterprises. (NAN)
