Imo State Government has approved ₦25 billion for the construction of 40 modern duplexes with recreational facilities for judges, in a move aimed at improving the welfare, security, and living conditions of judicial officers across the state.
The approval was announced on Tuesday after the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Hope Uzodimma in Owerri. Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the housing project is designed to provide judges with a comfortable and secure residential environment that reflects the importance of their role in the justice system.
According to Emelumba, the council also approved ₦1.9 billion for the establishment of four Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in the Orlu Zone. The initiative is expected to improve access to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations and other computer-based assessments for students in the area.
He disclosed that ₦900 million would be released immediately to begin work on two pilot centres located at Bishop Shanahan Okoye Secondary School and Community Secondary School, Omuma, while the remaining two centres will be completed under the broader funding package.
In another major decision, the council approved the establishment of Imo Signage Asset Management Limited, a company that will oversee the deployment and regulation of smart digital billboards across the state through a public-private partnership.
The Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Chimezie Amadi, explained that the project would be fully funded by private investors, placing no financial burden on the state government. He added that the initiative would leverage Internet of Things (IoT) technology to create a modern, digitally managed signage system capable of improving the regulation, monitoring, and management of outdoor advertising assets.
The Imo State Government said the approvals reflect its commitment to strengthening the welfare of judicial officers, expanding access to digital education infrastructure, and accelerating the state’s digital transformation agenda through innovative public-private partnerships.
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