Cattle overrun Owerri industrial layout, investors cry out to Uzodimma

AFTER SOME PARTS OF THE IN DUSTRIAL areas had been sold and some allegedly converted to private use by the past administrations in the state, the remaining part known as the Owerri-Onitsha Road Industrial Layout, Irete, in Owerri West local government area of Imo State, has now being taken over by armed herdsmen and their cattle.

This industrial zone with over 260 industrial plots has almost been taken over by the herdsmen who have decided to pasture their cattle and posing a threat to the remaining manufacturers and industrial workers in the industrial zone, a worrisome situation for captains of industry and people with investments domiciled in the industrial zone.

The industrial layout has been a shadow of itself for many years due to neglect by former governors of the state, but many say it is now in going into its final stage of extinction, if nothing tangible or serious is done to remove the new occupants who have wandered in to take over the place.

The Hope Uzodimma government appears to be following the ways of his predecessors in neglecting the industrial zone. An industrialist who didn’t want his name in print and who had to relocate his factory to Rivers State during administration of former governor Rochas Okorocha claims that if the industrial layout is revamped and investors who had left the area as a result of extreme and unbearable manufacturing environment, come back along with other potential investors, over 10,000 jobs would be created.

He has therefore urged Governor Uzodimma to revamp the industrial layout, built by former governor, Sam Mbakwe. Speaking on the way and manner the industrial zone has been allowed to rot, Charles Odiuko described the place as a death trap for manufacturers and other company workers almost forced to flee because of the armed herdsmen, who have invaded and taken over the place. “This is not working. The industrial zone of Imo State has been taken over by the herdsmen and their cattle. Some of us that have industrial plots and are looking for ways to develop them when the industrial zone becomes better, when the facilities like roads, electricity, security are there, cannot go there again because the cattle are there. As we speak, if you go on there, the fear of the herdsmen and their cattle will make you not to go there again,” said Odiuko, chairman and chief executive officer of the Tshabron Group, a conglomerate of about five firms.