Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has said that the proposed dredging of the Orashi river in the state would be hugely beneficial to the economy of the South-East geo-political zone.

Uzodimma said this when he led officials of the Nigerian Navy in Imo on a tour of the Orashi river from the Oguta lake, Oguta council area of the state on Saturday.

The governor said that the tour was to ascertain the potentials of the river for a planned dredging as approved by the Federal Government.

According to him, the river will not only serve as a good corridor for the Navy to access other waterways to discharge their duties, but also as a huge source of economic revitalization to Imo and the South-East in general.

He expressed optimism that those who live on the water banks of the Oguta lake as well as others commuting from there to other parts of the state and neighbouring states would be better off after the completion of the project.

” We went to better ascertain the potentials of the river viz-à-viz military operations and economic benefits.

” What we have seen is a water body waiting to be explored, with huge economic potentials for Imo, the South-East and neighbouring states.

” Once again, we are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving the dredging of the Orashi river during his last visit to the state and I promise Imo people that we will fully harness the potentials of the Orashi river and Oguta lake,” he said.

Commander of the Oguta Naval Base, Navy Capt. A. W. Umaru, who led the men of the Nigerian Navy on the tour expressed confidence that the dredging would boost security in the state by facilitating movement of military personnel.

He added that the project would afford Imo the opportunity to maximize its economic potential by facilitating the gas industrialisation of the state.

” In addition to economic emancipation of the state, the project will help to solve the problem of insecurity through job creation for the youths,” he said