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GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

Uzodimma suspends Managing Director of Imo State Housing Corporation, Ucheoma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has approved the suspension of the Managing Director of Imo State Housing Corporation (IMSHC), Barr. Raymond Ucheoma, barely one year the latter was appointed into the office.

Ucheoma's suspension, effective June 2, 2026 was communicated to him through a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government which said the suspension was immediate.

Ucheoma, the letter indicated, was directed to hand over all government property in his custody to the Secretary of the Corporation or the most senior officer in the IMSHC before the close of work on "Tuesday, June 2, 2026."

The appointment of Ucheoma, a lawyer and immediate past Head of Service of Imo State as Managing Director of IMSHC was approved in May 2025 in a letter also from the Office of the Secretary to the Government Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu.

The letter of appointment to him then read in part: “His Excellency has enjoined the new Managing Director to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the performance of his new job.

“He looks forward to a new Imo State Housing Corporation, whose philosophy and service delivery will align with the 3R prosperity agenda of the present administration.”

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary Special Adviser Media to the Governor
June 3, 2026.

GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE

PRESS RELEASE

FG, Imo seal pact on Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe

It is now official that Imo State has a new Federal Medical Centre in Okigwe following the conversation of the former Federal Medical Centre, Owerri as a Teaching Hospital for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri not long ago.

The pact to have the former General Hospital, Okigwe become Imo State's new Federal Medical Centre was sealed Wednesday, June 3, 2026 between the federal government delegation led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako and those of the Imo State led by Governor Hope Uzodimma.

During the signing of agreement for the conversation of the General Hospital, Okigwe to a Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe, Governor Uzodimma commended President Bola Tinubu for the speedy approval to establish a new Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Imo State, describing the move as a demonstration of responsive and compassionate leadership.

Speaking at the Government House, Owerri during the courtesy visit by the Minister and his entourage, the Governor expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for addressing what he described as a "longstanding gap in the State's healthcare infrastructure."

Uzodimma recalled that following the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education, and the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, converted to the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Imo became the only State in the country without a Federal Medical Centre (FMC).

He said the State government therefore appealed to the Federal Government which saw merit in the appeal and approved the siting of a new FMC in Okigwe.

"To facilitate the project, the State handed over the General Hospital, Okigwe, as the take-off facility. We are happy that this agreement is being executed today. The ultimate beneficiaries are the people of Imo State,” the Governor said.

He therefore thanked Mr. President, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate and the Federal Government for absorbing the hospital staff and pledged the State's continued support to ensure quality healthcare delivery across Imo.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Salako, commended the Imo State Government for its achievements in the health sector, describing the State as one of the Federal Ministry of Health's "flagship States" in healthcare delivery.

Salako praised Governor Uzodimma's investments in primary healthcare, health insurance expansion and specialist medical services.

"We see what Imo is doing in healthcare and consider the State one of our most cherished partners in achieving universal health coverage," he said.

The Minister noted that the establishment of the FMC aligns with President Tinubu's vision of bringing specialist healthcare closer to Nigerians and reducing medical tourism abroad.

He assured the State government of continued federal support, including funding, infrastructure and staff recruitment, adding that existing hospital workers willing to serve under the Federal Government would be retained after an audit.

The Deputy Governor of Imo State Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Paul Obinatu, and other top government officials joined the Governor at the meeting.

Oguwike Nwachuku
Chief Press Secretary Special Adviser Media to the Governor
June 3, 2026.

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IIRS Onboards Haulage Agents and Enforcers to Streamline Collections and End Road Extortion

The Imo State Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) has successfully conducted a comprehensive onboarding and training programme for haulage fee agents and road enforcement officers across the state as part of efforts to reform revenue collection within the haulage sector.
The initiative is aimed at standardizing haulage fee administration, eliminating multiple taxation, and reducing the operational burden often experienced by transporters and haulage operators on Imo roads.
Addressing participants during the programme, the Executive Chairman of IIRS, Justice R. Okoye, emphasized the importance professionalism, transparency, and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
He stated that the initiative is aimed at easing the burden on transporters. All agents and enforcers must comply strictly with approved procedures, issue official receipts for every transaction, and refrain from any form of harassment, intimidation, or illegal collection,” he stated.
The technical session was facilitated by Cyber One System, IIRS' technical partner in alignment with the policy direction of the Joint Tax Board. Participants received practical training on the digital revenue platform and were taken through the three key pillars of tax administration: Enumeration, Collection, and Enforcement.
A major highlight of the programme was the unveiling of the CHRL Tag, an electronic identification tag designed for haulage vehicles with a lifespan of up to ten years. The team also conducted a practical demonstration on the installation and operational use of the device.
IIRS reiterated that agents are prohibited from collecting fees outside designated routes or without valid documentation. The newly introduced system ensures that transporters pay the approved haulage fee only once per trip through a transparent, accountable, and technology-driven process.
The onboarding programme concluded with the formal certification and deployment of participating agents and enforcement officers, marking another significant step in IIRS' commitment to improving revenue administration, enhancing compliance, and creating a more business-friendly environment in Imo State.

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