By: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.

The Imo  State Government has put mechanism in place to  recover  all  Industrial layouts illegally acquired and sold by individuals and communities for residential purposes.

This is even as measures have been put in place to flush out criminals hibernating in bushes and uncompleted structures in such areas.

This was made known by the commissioner for Industries, Mines and Solid Minerals,  Barr. Jerry Egemba  while briefing newsmen in Owerri, the capital of Imo State .

He said, “We want to recover all industrial areas acquired illegally or sold by communities, use them for the very purpose they are meant because frequent encroachment, illegal acquisition and selling of these areas has thrown a spanner in the wheel of progress of our industrialization”.

Barr. Egemba stressed that the state Government is anxiously searching for interested investors who have the technical know-how to partner with it to harness the abundant mineral resources in the state that are in commercial quantities such as clay, limestone and gravel.

“We will collaborate with the Federal Government in this regard and obtain  license for this”.

He expressed  optimism that the on-going renovation of the  Concorde Hotel, Owerri would be consummated in no distant time, so as to return  the hospitality edifice to its premier position for comfort and relaxation.

Barr. Egemba eulogized  Governor Hope Uzodimma for his road  revolution which he highlighted had earned him the “Infrastructure Governor”.