Tuesday June 17, 2025|
Akwa Ibom State Government has advocated an intentional effort by all and sundry to embrace, encourage and galvanize public support for development projects being executed across the state, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Mrs. Offiong Offor made the renewed advocacy during a stakeholders engagement and sensitization exercise, prelude to the construction of Mbiafun Ikot Abasi – Fiong Aran road at the Council Chairman’s office, Ini Local Government Secretariat, Odoro Ikpe.
Her words: “These interventions are notably roads, cross – drainage structures and markets. Government solicits maximum support and cooperation from all stakeholders so as to complement the ARISE agenda and justify His Excellency’s payment of counterpart funds for the project,” adding that no development can thrive under an atmosphere of fear, tension, rancour and general hostilities.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ini Local Government Area, Hon. Inibehe Umah described the project as a catalyst that would facilitate other indices of development beyond the jurisdiction of Ini Local Government Area, pointing out that “under my watch, the Council will do everything within her powers to guard, protect and preserve the project for the overall benefit of the people.”
On her part, the immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Edet described the state project coordinator of AKS-RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan as diligent, focussed and painstaking on his duties, pointing out that the success stories recorded by the project so far across the state was the product of his hard-work and perseverance.
She admonished the gathering that “RAAMP is a partnership project with the World Bank / French Development Agency. It is very important that all efforts should be mobilised to leverage on this opportunity to develop our rural communities through encouraging and supportive attitudes, as the project does not tolerate rancour and acrimony”
The State Project Coordinator of AKS-RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan highlighted that the 4.30 kilometer road cuts across two communities: Mbiafun Ikot Abasi and Atai Usung in Ward 8; and named the project contractors as K-Class Multi-Global Engineering Limited, while Amana New -Tech Joint Venture are the consultants.
Pastor Akpan canvassed support, cooperation and communal ownership of the project for best results to help translate and actualise the ARISE agenda of the current administration of the state, led by His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno, PhD, adding that gainful employments through direct jobs would be created for youths by the contractors in line with the local content policy, while sundry other ancillary job opportunities would evolve from the construction process, among other activities.
Responding on behalf of the host communities, Obong Prince Michael Etim Ekanem – community leader; Hon. Ekerette Joshua – the Councillor representing Ward 8 in Ini Local Government legislature; and Elder Stephen Akpan Mendie, among others assured an all-round excellent behaviour by the communities, as they thanked the State Government, the World Bank, French Development Agency and other stakeholders for the rare intervention, describing same as unprecedented.
