Bennett Oghifo
The Phones and Allied Product Dealers Association (PAPDA), Computer Village Business People in Ikeja, Lagos, have purchased a total of 2500 shops at the Heartland Gateway International Market under construction in Mgbidi, Imo State.
The signing of the purchase agreement was done recently at the office of M.I. Okoro & Associates, the marketing firm to the project, in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Present at the signing were the President, Phones & Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDA), Chief Godfrey Iyke Nwosu; the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Graceland Channels Ltd, the developers, Pastor Nat Omoruyi; Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State and Liaison Officer in Lagos, Mr. Alfred O. Ononugbo; and the Principal Consultant M.I. Okoro & Associates, Dr. M.I. Okoro; President, Imo State Town Union, Lagos, Pastor Okey Anorue; Lawyers, among others.
By this, the Computer Village Business People, Ikeja, have shown interest in the re-energizing of Imo state economic activities in Eastern Nigeria.

The re-energizing of Imo state economic activities is to be achieved through the development of 10,000 lock up shops, warehouses, housing estates and other facilities.

Mr. Ononugbo, who represented Governor Rochas Okorocha advised the business people to have “an integrity-driven market. If our people buy a product for N30,000 then give them a product that is worth N30,000.”

He urged other business people to take advantage of the market and stake their claim, saying the government was prepared to give them incentives like tax rebate to enable them function properly.

He assured them of security and that the governor was keen on getting the market and other business components in the state on track. “It will be regrettable for anyone to place politics with the destiny of the Igbo Race.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Graceland Channels Ltd, the developers, Pastor Nat Omoruyi said the market is open to people from everywhere in the country and beyond.

Omoruyi said the site was being cleared and that some pillars have been erected at the market.

The Imo State Government in its rescue mission initiative and vanguard for a One Mega City State, has engage Graceland Channels Limited to Design and Develop a Commercial City in Mgbidi to serve as the commercial nerve point of the state. Mgbidi is strategically located, being the Gateway into Imo State (The Eastern Heartland of the Nation). It is barely 30 minutes drive from Onitsha and about 10 minutes drive to Owerri. It has a large expanse of land (covering 28.097 hectares), which the past governments of the state, with foresight, had acquired to build an International market to serve the sub region and beyond.

As first Phase for the Development of Mgbidi, Graceland Channels Limited is undertaking the Designing, Building, Developing and Management of an ultra modern market complex on the earmarked piece of land to be known as “Heartland Gateway International Market", Mgbidi –Imo State, Nigeria.

The proposed Heartland Gateway International Market is envisaged as a multi-purpose commercial and business service centre which will serve as a key business destination for Imo State in particular, Nigeria as a nation and the whole of West Africa.

It will provide an enabling environment for economic growth, job creation, tourism and recreation and thereby impact positively on the state and the entire country.

He said, “The complex is designed with space in mind and to be built at optimized cost without compromise to quality, aesthetics, safety and an eco-friendly environment.”

The Computer Village Business people urged the Imo State Government to assist them in creating other infrastructure like pipe borne water, electricity, internal road development within the Market City, building of Hospital and other municipal services that would aid the magnitude of the Market City. This would assist them to do their business effectively.

The Computer Village Business Group on their own have invited banks to partner with them by providing mortgages from their teaming population under special funding arrangement so as to finance  their initial 2500 lock up shops.

The group was delighted that other trading groups and associations were consulted to be part of the development and also to do business in the Market City.

According to Chief M.I. Okoro, the market was being built with input from prospective owners, as against the situation where shops would have been fully developed and commissioned before inviting business people to come and purchase. “Trading groups are called from inception to contribute their inputs, since they are the final users of the shops being developed.

“This approach yields better results because by inviting the Business group to participate from the start gives them a better sense of belonging and respect to their existence. That is why the Market city must succeed.

“The Government of Imo State and the Igbo Nation have commended the effort and vision of the Computer Village people for the example they have shown by partnering with Imo State government to develop Igbo land.

“The Igbo Nation, both Home and Abroad hereby call on the rest of Igbo  business groups all over Nigeria and abroad to begin to come home and develop their business in Igbo land just like the people of Israel left Egypt for the promise land noting that there can never be any place like home.

“The Igbo nation sees any development deliberately sited in Igbo land as Akuluo Uno which is better than billions outside Igbo land and appealed to all Igbo trading groups like ASPAMDA, Alaba International market people, Ladipo market people, Berger Auto Dealers, business men and women and all other Igbo business men and women outside  Igbo land to join efforts with the computer village business people to make the Heartland Gateway International Market a success within one year from its inception.”

These economic activities will take place at a new development, which is the Heartland Gateway International Market, Mgbidi, Imo state.

The development is made possible through a public-private partnership between Imo state government and Graceland Channels Ltd.

The concept of locating the Heartland Gateway International Market at Mgbidi, is a product of visionary leadership of the Governor of Imo state, Anayo Rochas Okorocha.

His idea is to locate the International Market at a border town central to Anambra, Delta, Enugu, Rivers and Imo state of Nigeria for the convenience of movement of people, goods and other materials in one hand and “Think-Home Investment Concept.”
Okoro said, “This development is the first of its kind in the South East of Nigeria, which is aimed at re-energizing the economic activities of Eastern Nigeria and is expected to create countless jobs, employment and other creative entrepreneurial activities.
“These economic activities are capable of reducing high rate of youths restiveness and crime that have been traced to unemployment as well as releasing the potential values of any available piece of land in the immediate environment and neighbouring states.

“On the other hand, the International Market is focused at attracting investments to the Eastern part of Nigeria where Igbo people who have been busy developing other parts of Nigeria can come home and do business with the rest of Nigerians and other international communities in Igbo land.”

On completion, the International Market will be the biggest, most modern type of market in Nigeria and Africa.
This International Market is expected to play host to over two million people doing business in the market city.
This teaming population coming from all parts of Nigeria and the world would  demand for land for various developmental projects like- housing estates, Warehousing complexes, Hotels, Industrial and allied activities, schools and colleges and any other activities that may require the use of land.

The increase in the demand for land purchase is expected to increase the value of land in the area.

He said Governor Anayo Rochas Okorocha earmarked about 200hectres of land to Graceland Channels Ltd for the development of over three thousand housing units for both residential and commercial occupations in Mgbidi and immediate environment.
The land supply will help accommodate the expected teaming population as a preliminary measure to tackle the demand for housing, and also to complement the Heartland Gateway International Market.

In a bid to open up the Eastern region of Nigeria for effective economic emancipation and to position it to compete with the world economically, Okorocha launched the development of an Industrial Park with some foreign partnership.
The foreign partnership with the Imo State Government is expected to cost over five billion US Dollars and is already sited at Egbema, Imo state.

The Industrial Park shares immediate neighbourhood with the Heartland Gateway International Market and Rivers State of Nigeria.

“This will aid the ease of movement of goods via the Imo, Port Harcourt and Asaba Airports plus the Governor’s intention to also open up water ways for the transportation of goods and materials via the Port Harcourt Seaport.

“The choice of Graceland Channels Ltd for the development of the market City at Mgbidi is an evidence of Imo State government’s pursuit for excellence, because this construction firm has developed a lot of Estates in the past that competes with International standard.”

I hear. My comment is not based on any sentiments just my very personal knowledge of the Igbo Man and I mean very personal. Your story may be true, I can't tell. But one thing am very certain of is the fact that, When one igboman moves out of a place irrespective of whatever may have caused it, the next igboman moves in believing the one who left wasn't so smart and that he would do better. Excell where the former failed. So if igbo businesses are relocating East, expect fresh igbo businesses to migrate down south and up north. At the end 20 cancels 10 and that becomes an "Effort in Futility" they can still chase Nationalism with their businesses in Nigeria because those business will turn positive to Biafra later.

This is bad news for lazy touts like yourself Mr. OPCNairaland.

With Ibo businesses relocating, you lazy bums will only have rotten tomato sellers to extort.

Source biko!


The OP is laced with lies sha...

With this kind of initiatives biafra will be achieved without shooting a bullet.


ALL Hail biafra

Bye

As igbos relocate to the east the fulanis will be replacing them in lagos.

This is a welcome development.

The state government should create special purpose vehicle that would partner with eastern owned businesses to set up factories in the east.

It's a Scheme!!!!

I know at the right time we'll meaning Igbos will step in and renegades like Nnamdi Kanu will be relegated to the background. Opportunistic spur of the moment. Somebody ask Nnamdi Kanu and his goons if they have bothered to do a study on Nationalism at all; where in the study of Nationalism in either Political science or Sociology can you find a quest like that of Biafra calling for violence? The Igbos according to the Books and reality should pursue " Gentail Nationalism" If in 1960 Nigeria ddnt need a bullet to get independence from her colonial Masters the British, I wonder why Mr Kanu will be advocating for violence when it was clear Ojukwu failed using Violence. The igbos need Geniuses with Brains at this point in time and not Drunks with thugs and violent propaganda. It's a negotiation and consultation struggle and not violence. The igbos have the right to seek self determination but it should be handled by decent knowledgeable non violent professionals. Thugs got countries in the past but not in these days and age. The world has moved and the UN has provided for self determination. Igbos do the needful and explore the opportunity.

azimibraun:
I know at the right time we'll meaning Igbos will step in and renegades like Nnamdi Kanu will be relegated to the background. Opportunistic spur of the moment. Somebody ask Nnamdi Kanu and his goons if they have bothered to do a study on Nationalism at all; where in the study of Nationalism in either Political science or Sociology can you find a quest like that of Biafra calling for violence? The Igbos according to the Books and reality should pursue " Gentail Nationalism" If in 1960 Nigeria ddnt need a bullet to get independence from her colonial Masters the British, I wonder why Mr Kanu will be advocating for violence when it was clear Ojukwu failed using Violence. The igbos need Geniuses with Brains at this point in time and not Drunks with thugs and violent propaganda. It's a negotiation and consultation struggle and not violence. The igbos have the right to seek self determination but it should be handled by decent knowledgeable non violent professionals. Thugs got countries in the past but not in these days and age. The world has moved and the UN has provided for self determination. Igbos do the needful and explore the opportunity.

Massob led by uwazuruike tried the non violent biafra and what came out of it, people like obasanjo, Danjuma, Useni, gowon threatening to waste the last drop of their hypocritical blood for one nigeria but the same people who didn't waste a drop of sweat for oil rich bakassi.

ok

Next in line would be the multi-billion Naira motor spare parts business which would birth and make the south east it's hub

If true, it is a smart thing to do, but I doubt they can leave that fast.

WombRaiders:
This is bad news for lazy touts like yourself Mr. OPCNairaland.

With Ibo businesses relocating, you lazy bums will only have rotten tomato sellers to extort.

This is bad first Ibos. The Nigerian project favours them because they can sell their imported goods to a large market of 170 million people . Now there is nobody to sell to but barely 25million. The only reason for NAFTA, ECOWAS and EU is that larger markets are best in terms of combined GDP and scale economics. The East on its own is very unviable. It will be a landlocked, entity bordered by the Niger Delta, Cameroon, North East, Edo and Delta. All tribes in Nigeria have business skills, Dangote is from the North, Atiku has factories producing everything from pure water to cooking oil. Yorubas are Lords of the FMCG and other sectors. In the 70s Hausas had commercial enclaves in Lagos near Apapa, Ibadan , Old PH town and other places, these enclaves will now grow and multiply. I still don't know why people think this move East is good for Ibos.

Hmmmn! watchnNwaitn

Adminisher:


This is bad first Ibos. The Nigerian project favours them because they can sell their imported goods to a large market of 170 million people . Now there is nobody to sell to but barely 25million. The only reason for NAFTA, ECOWAS and EU is that larger markets are best in terms of combined GDP and scale economics. The East on its own is very unviable. It will be a landlocked, entity bordered by the Niger Delta, Cameroon, North East, Edo and Delta. All tribes in Nigeria have business skills, Dangote is from the North, Atiku has factories producing everything from pure water to cooking oil. Yorubas are Lords of the FMCG and other sectors. In the 70s Hausas had commercial enclaves in Lagos near Apapa, Ibadan , Old PH town and other places, these enclaves will now grow and multiply. I still don't know why people think this move East is good for Ibos.

not sure people making the move are complaining...looks like more of expansion to me as it is not written that they are leaving computer village

kettykin:
Next in line would be the multi-billion Naira motor spare parts business which would birth and make the south east it's hub

you love these your fantasies

Dudu-Negro aka OPCNAIRALAND,the business men are not relocating their investments but only expanding.

What a misleading headline.

Adminisher:


This is bad first Ibos. The Nigerian project favours them because they can sell their imported goods to a large market of 170 million people . Now there is nobody to sell to but barely 25million. The only reason for NAFTA, ECOWAS and EU is that larger markets are best in terms of combined GDP and scale economics. The East on its own is very unviable. It will be a landlocked, entity bordered by the Niger Delta, Cameroon, North East, Edo and Delta. All tribes in Nigeria have business skills, Dangote is from the North, Atiku has factories producing everything from pure water to cooking oil. Yorubas are Lords of the FMCG and other sectors. In the 70s Hausas had commercial enclaves in Lagos near Apapa, Ibadan , Old PH town and other places, these enclaves will now grow and multiply. I still don't know why people think this move East is good for Ibos.

Olodo.

The fact remains that you touts will see a reduction in their daily extortion racket, your states will receive less revenue from vat and the SE coastline will be utilized thereby reducing activities at your port.

Besides once ND and Biafra Republic come up stream we will look towards central, east and south Africa to expand trade to.

Good

News

To

Start

The

Day

I just wish it's true..

Na lie....

Eboe Traders,

Traders,


There is a difference between a trader and a businessman.

By the way can Eboe drug dealers relocate home too?

azimibraun:
I hear. My comment is not based on any sentiments just my very personal knowledge of the Igbo Man and I mean very personal. Your story may be true, I can't tell. But one thing am very certain of is the fact that, When one igboman moves out of a place irrespective of whatever may have caused it, the next igboman moves in believing the one who left wasn't so smart and that he would do better. Excell where the former failed. So if igbo businesses are relocating East, expect fresh igbo businesses to migrate down south and up north. At the end 20 cancels 10 and that becomes an "Effort in Futility" they can still chase Nationalism with their businesses in Nigeria because those business will turn positive to Biafra later.

oga, you can't be more wrong. Coscharis of recent has started moving his business to the east. The Lagos state business man has started coscharis farms and relocated his transport company business to nnewi.

Ifeanyi Uba, Lagos based business man has relocated back to the east to invest. Started his own football club, with his own oil business relocating to the east.

My friend, the biafran movement has started..you should be happy that the Igbos are finally leaving your beloved Lagos for you. Rejoice!!

liberty300:
oga, you can't be more wrong. Coscharis of recent has started moving his business to the east. The Lagos state business man has started coscharis farms and relocated his transport company business to nnewi.

Ifeanyi Uba, Lagos based business man has relocated back to the east to invest. Started his own football club, with his own oil business relocating to the east.

My friend, the biafran movement has started..you should be happy that the Igbos are finally leaving your beloved Lagos for you. Rejoice!!

wrong coscharis is simply expanding..his new auto assembly plant is still in Lagos..

Ifeanyi uba cant stop that his oil biz in Lagos because of its nature..the club he is sponsoring is simply to keep his name afloat til next election in anambra state

..and where did you get your news that he is recontesting for election? You speculate a lot.

asha80:
wrong coscharis is simply expanding..his new auto assembly plant is still in Lagos..

Ifeanyi uba cant stop that his oil biz in Lagos because of its nature..the club he is sponsoring is simply to keep his name afloat til next election in anambra state

God bless biafraland..
The next turn is alaba, after alaba is ladipo, after ladipo is idumota..

Thy will be done o lord.

liberty300:
oga, you can't be more wrong. Coscharis of recent has started moving his business to the east. The Lagos state business man has started coscharis farms and relocated his transport company business to nnewi.

Ifeanyi Uba, Lagos based business man has relocated back to the east to invest. Started his own football club, with his own oil business relocating to the east.

My friend, the biafran movement has started..you should be happy that the Igbos are finally leaving your beloved Lagos for you. Rejoice!!

No sane Igbo businessman relocates his business except there's an outbreak of war,they only expand their business.

Stop talking nonsense!!

Stop insulting people, you are supposed to be a married woman

Beremx:
No sane Igbo businessman relocates his business,they only expand their business. Stop talking nonsense!!

WombRaiders:


Olodo.

The fact remains that you touts will see a reduction in their daily extortion racket, your states will receive less revenue from vat and the SE coastline will be utilized thereby reducing activities at your port.

Besides once ND and Biafra Republic come up stream we will look towards central, east and south Africa to expand trade to.

Don't flatter yourself. There's nothing special about importing containers of merchandise into the country and trading. If the yeebos leave Computer village today whatever void that creates can be easily filled by others. As long as there's a market, there'll always be business.

chino11:

..and where did you get your news that he is recontesting for election? You speculate a lot.

maybe I should not say recontest but he definitely has to keep his name afloat for political reasons because I simply dont believe he is doing it for altruistic reasons..we all know ifeanyi uba and his ways

chino11:
Stop insulting people, you are supposed to be a married woman

ok