SENATE BEMOANS CONDITION OF SMEDAN FACILITILITIES IN OWERRI, WARNS AGAINST ENCROACHMENT OF THE AGENCY’S LAND BY IMO STATE OFFICIALS
The National A
ssembly has lamented the poor state of infrastructure of the Industrial Development Centre in Owerri.
Chairman Senate Committee on Industry Dr. Sam Egwu made the statement during the Committee’s oversight function to the premises of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) and the Industrial Development Centre in Owerri.
Dr. Egwu noted that most of the equipment at the Centre were either obsolete or non-serviceable there by rendering the facilities unproductive.
The Senator called for urgent intervention of the government to save the Centre, which was set up to assist Small Scale Business, from total collapse.
Senator Egwu also frowned at what he described as an encroachment into the lands belonging to the Agency by agents of the Imo State Government and some individuals noting that the situation was unacceptable.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, said apart from dilapidated infrastructure, there was the need for capacity building of staff to enable the centre realize its objective.
He solicited the support of State Governments and the private sector in bringing the industrial development centres back to track.
CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
