The construction of security gates in the State has elicited diverse opinions and perception from the critical Imo populace.
Infact, two Schools of Thought have sharply emerged on the issue, each propounding reasons for and against the project. While some say the gates are meaningless and a deliberate ploy by the Okorocha Administration to cage Imolites who are used to moving freely, another school of thought emphasize that such security gates have become imperative to curtail the increasing menace of crime, especially kidnapping.
Those who align themselves to the latter argue that such gates are necessary as it is in consonance with the rapid socio economic change that has engulfed the State in recent times. Security experts also opine that as a city or State develops, there is need to either modernize or strengthen the security system in order to either cope or arrest the attendant wave of social vices that trails such wave of development.
This is where the issue of security gates fits in. And to the best of my knowledge, this might be the motive behind the ongoing construction of security gates in strategic points and locations in the three zones of Orlu, Okigwe and Owerri undertaken by the Rochas Okorocha Administration.
A look at the pattern of construction of these gates in Owerri Federal Constituency made up of Owerri West LGA, Owerri Municipal and Owerri North indicates that those responsible for the erection of these gates are either misinformed or lack knowledge of the security terrain in the constituency. And if this anomaly is not corrected, then the purpose for the construction of these gates will be defeated.
I had expected those responsible for the construction of these gates to have a clear picture of the security situation in Owerri Federal Constituency before embarking on the project. They should have liaised with relevant security agencies and obtained a data to ascertain areas and locations where criminal activities are perverse. This should have served as a guide to build such gates. If they had embarked on this simple task, they would have understood that Owerri West Local Government Area requires more security gates than its sister local governments. They would have understood that the area has a large landmass, with 18 communities and a boundary with Rivers State which makes it expedient that it gets more of these security gates.
However, we have seen excessive concentration of these gates in Owerri municipality which has only five communities. This is understandable considering the fact it is the State capital.
Other gates undergoing construction in the Constituency, especially in Owerri North LGA, has been faulted on the basis that it might be politically motivated to serve the interest of some political stakeholders in the present Government. If this is not so, one wonders why there are such gates in Ezeogba, Emekuku in Owerri North which is the community of the Agbasos. Another gate has been sited in Orji, the home community of the member representing Owerri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi. Or is the present Mayor for Owerri Zone, Hon. Henry Njoku, whose office supervises the construction of these gates and who comes from Owerri North, acting a script designed for him by whomever in siting where the gates will be built in Owerri Federal constituency? I hope this is not so.
Some security experts allude that if not for political reasons, such gates in Owerri North should have been sited at strategic locations such as Egbu and Obowo, which are the last entry and exit points into the State capital from Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
However, it is strange that Owerri West Local Government, despite its expanse landmass has no single gate to boast of? Surprisingly Communities such as Nekede, Obinze, Ihiagwa, Mgbirichi, Naze junction which are part of Owerri West, and do have high population density do not have any security gate. It is even more appalling to hear that these areas which are vulnerable to crime are left out in such exercise. For instance, Obinze and Ihiagwa communities, which have the largest number of stranger elements in Imo State, who could not secure accommodation in a congested Owerri metropolis, have no security gate.
Further, the presence of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) at Ihiagwa and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede has increased the population of these areas. And this makes such areas either vulnerable to crime or other social vices such as cultism. Strangely, no gate has been sited in these areas for now.
If indeed the intention of building these gates is to checkmate crime, then one is also at a loss why areas such as Ndegwu, Orogwe, Ogbaku and Ohii communities has not been considered important for such security gates. Security reports indicate that these areas are routes mainly used by hoodlums and kidnappers as channels for escape. Ohii for instance connects to Nwaorieubi in Mbaitoli LGA. Nwaorieubi serves as a link to Orlu Road and outskirts of Owerri. One can see its strategic importance to the security of the State capital and why the area deserves to have a security gate.
However, I cannot end this discourse without bringing to the fore the sub standard materials used for the construction of some of the gates. Recently, it was reported that one of the gates at Wethedral by Lobo Street in Owerri Municipality collapsed. While no live was lost, the collapsed structure is a clear indication that the contractor did a shoddy or substandard job. If the structure had collapsed in the day time, precious human lives would have been sent to their untimely graves.
I believe these gates are built to help secure lives and property of Imolites and not to become death traps. I pray another gate does not cave in. I also call on the Mayor, Owerri Zone, whose office is said to be responsible for the construction and maintenance of these gates, to source for contractors that have the capacity to build solid gates that will stand the test of time. It will be an embarrassment with dire electoral consequences for the Okorocha Administration if these gates constitute a threat to our lives. Imolites are watching.
