The Imo State Government and Jampur Group on Thursday signed a deal that is expected to jumpstart the revival of moribund companies in the state and the possible establishment of new ones.

The companies under consideration include Achara Ugbo Farm in Emekuku, Imo Standard Shoe Industry, and Nsu Tile Industry at Ehime Mbano.

Nsu Tile Industry and Imo Standard Shoe Industry were established, alongside others like Avutu Poultry and Ada Palm, by the first civilian governor of Imo State, Sam Mbakwe, between 1979 and 1983. Both have since gone moribund and become political tools in the hands successive administrations in the state.

Jampur Group, said to be engaged in diversified businesses from shipping to power, agriculture, manufacturing, agro-businesses, heavy duty equipment procurement and others, is expected to take over livestock production and expansion in Achara Ugbo Farm, with a target to open up and expand the farm not only for poultry, piggery and other livestock production, but also to install a fertilizer plant within the premises that will do 400 metric tons of fertilizer, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma told journalists at the signing ceremony in Owerri, the state capital.

“They are to take over the revival of the Standard Shoe Industry recovered from AMCON by the 3R administration that has been lying fallow for a long period, and also, they are expected to establish a textile industry at the same premises and put them into production and manufacturing,” Uzodimma said.

These arrangements are expected to kick off within the next three to six months, Uzodimma said, expressing confidence that “Jampur Group is equal to the task”.

“The Jampur Group is expected to replicate its activities in Imo State as a serious-minded business group that is tested, having been in Angola, Egypt and other African Countries as well as in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria,” he said.

Mohammed Shafiq, who led the Jampur Group, said the group was passionate about what it intends to do on projects in the Achara Ugbo Farm, particularly chicken, egg, beef canning and other related livestock production, as well as in the area of fertilizer and cement.

Imo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Cosmas Maduba, and his Mines and Industry counterpart, Ernest Ibejiako, signed on behalf of the government, while Mr. Shafiq signed on behalf of Jampur Group.

Imo State Deputy Governor, Chinyere Ekomaru; Secretary to the State Government, Cosmas Iwu; Chief of Staff, Nnamdi Anyaehie; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, COC Akolisa; Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emeluba; Chief Political Adviser/Head Political Bureau, Enyinaya Onuegbu; Accountant General of the state, Linus Duru, and the Governor’s Technical Adviser, Bola Adigun, witnessed the signing.