President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday gave his approval for the use of cutting-edge surveillance technology to combat crime and insecurity in Imo and other southeastern states.

Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo state, revealed this to reporters in the House of Representatives after a private meeting with the president at Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.

Buhari’s approval, according to Uzodimma, would pave the way for the use of cutting-edge surveillance technology to combat insecurity without causing collateral damage.

He stated that the Southeast would soon receive the tools.

“I also asked him for more support, to help us with some technological deployments that we have planned to use as an advanced type of security control in the southeast. And he has also given his approval to that.

“And in a moment, we’ll get some surveillance equipment and some modern technology that will help us manage security so that we can fight crime with little or no collateral damage to the environment,” the governor explained.

Uzodimma also noted that he was on a thank-you visit to the president for previous requests he had granted, including the conversion of the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, into a teaching teaching hospital for the Federal University of Technology, Owerri and the conversion of the Alvan College of Education. from Ikoku to a federal education college.

He said: “I also thank you for the various supports you have given us during this period of security challenges and the support you have also given us in terms of the various approvals.

The approval to convert the Owerri Federal Medical Center into a University Teaching Hospital for the Federal Technological University, the approval that converted the Alvan Ikoku College of Education into a federal education college.

“Just two weeks ago, Igbo Indians returning home from Lagos and out of the south-east enjoyed the benefit of the Second Bridge over Niger. It is commendable.”

Citing the reduction in the crime rate and other infrastructure projects in his state, Uzodimma said his government was hoping for a better year.

“Going forward, I know that 2023 will be better than 2022. And the level of development that we witness from 2020 to 2022 will improve.

“My people have seen many things. If you go south-east, in Imo state for example, we got the approval of Mr. President who has now allowed the Imo state government to partner with the Nigerian Navy to dredge the Oguta river to the Orashi river to the sea, that is opening by that maritime route.

“Then, with a Naval Base there, we can now handle the pipeline vandalism, the theft of crude oil and all the forms of crime that plagued that area for a long time. And crime has been greatly reduced since the Naval Base was established.

So I think we have hope for a better Nigeria. The road that we just completed which was inaugurated by Mr. President, the Owerri-Orlu Dualized Highway, Mr. President has approved the Imo State Government to be reimbursed,” he said.