Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chief of Defence Staff Lucky Irabor, and other prominent Nigerians have described the dredging of the Oguta/Orashi River as a game-changer that will not only transform the economy of Imo State and its neighbours but also ensure security along the waterways.

They spoke at Oguta, Imo State, during the flag-off of the hydrographic survey and dredging of Oguta Lake and Orashi River to Degema in Rivers State up to the Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking at the event on on Thursday, Osinbajo said the project is to revive the economic channels, enhance coastal connectivity and ensure security on the stretch of the two rivers opening up to the Atlantic Ocean, adding that when completed, the it would offer economic opportunities to the host communities, Imo State and Nigeria in general.

He described the project as a game changer for Uzodimma’s government and the people of Imo State.

He said the project was initiated and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari following several demands made on him by Governor Uzodimma, adding that the President also approved a Free Trade Zone that will leverage the large gas carbon deposit in the area.

“The project is to revive the economic channels and enhance coastal connectivity and ensure security on the stretch of the two rivers opening up to the Atlantic Ocean,” Osinbajo said, noting that “the project when realised will offer economic opportunities to the host communities, Imo State and Nigeria in general”.

He said the project is a “unique one that comes with its economic transformation opening Imo State as a gateway to other West African countries”.

“The Federal Government will support the Imo State Government to bring the dredging of Oguta Lake and Orashi River Development Project to fruition,” the Vice President said, urging all to join hands to achieve the project.

He commended the governor for his foresight and political pragmatism, reiterating that “the project will not have been possible without Mr. President’s approval and Governor Uzodimma’s foresight”.
Governor Uzodimma, in his speech, expressed gratitude to President Buhari whom he said “God used to make the day possible”.

He thanked Mr. President for “the approval to dredge the two rivers, for approval to locate the Naval Base in Imo State, for approval to uplift Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri to Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, for approval to make Alvan Ikoku College of Education a Federal University College of Education, and for approval to establish Oil Reclamation Programme in Imo State”.

He expressed gratitude to President Buhari “for his support to recover Imo from bandits and hoodlums that terrorised the state”.

The governor appreciated the Vice President, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff and other invited guests for being physically present, saying that “the project is for trade and investment, economic transformation and fight against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism”.
The governor, who was excited over the flag-off, noted that “the project will be achieved not with magic but by the miracle of Public Private Partnership (PPP)”.

“The dredging and opening of the two rivers to the Atlantic will remove Imo State from being landlocked as it is encapsulated in security and economic development,” he said.

He pointed out that the hydro-graphic survey and dredging is to determine the mapping and depth of the entire distance from Oguta Lake to the Atlantic.

“The success of the project will bring unquantifiable employment for Imo State, the South East and Nigeria at large. This will be followed by the establishment of an industrial cluster leveraging on the gas deposits and other natural resources in the area.
“In addition, the project will bring about cultural ties between the South East and the South South when the security is strengthened and movement becomes seamless,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, commended the dexterity of the governor in pursuing the project, acknowledging that “the overall objective of the project is creating economic and security environment along the river and the communities on the coast”.

He thanked President Buhari for giving the approval and promised that “the Army will leverage on the approval to support the realisation of the project”.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awal Gambo, described the project as a medium for transportation of goods and services, for curbing criminal activities and reducing oil theft in the area.

He recalled that by 1991 a Naval Base had been proposed for Imo State but that operations could only start “during the government of Governor Uzodimma in 2021”.

He said the presence of his officers and men in the area has reduced oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism by 65 per cent, noting that “the project could not have come on a better time than now”.

He assured of the support of the Nigerian Navy and commended the governor for partnering with them, enjoining the community to take ownership of the project for their overall benefit.