Sunday October 5, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The Atta Oro and Paramount Ruler of Okobo, His Eminence, Edidem Ita Okokon has expressed appreciation to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno over his investment in the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, AKS-RAAMP, which has culminated in the ongoing construction and physical improvement of Atabong beach market in Okobo Local Government Area.
Edidem Okokon gave the remark recently at his palace, during a citizens engagement organized by AKS-RAAMP for stakeholders of the market and its environs to strengthen their buy-in, support and cooperation with a view to enhancing the seamless progress and accomplishment of the project.
The royal father maintained that “Atabong beach market is the center-point of crayfish in Nigeria. People come all the way from Abuja and Lagos to buy here. Igbo people, Cross River and others also come here,” pointing out that without the Governor’s determined focus on rural development and his fulfillment of relevant World Bank protocols, AKS-RAAMP would not have been empowered to intervene on the market.
He also expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements by Government in the provision of gunboats to patrol the waterways, pointing out that infiltration of the market and the environs by pirates had been detrimental for business activities over the years. “I want to advise…when the market is completed, let the Governor keep one gunboat at the center between Ishiet and Oron, which is the entrance to Atabong to further guarantee security.”
On her part, an Atabong Clan Council woman leader and medium scale crayfish trader, Obonanwan Affiong Etim Asuquo described the intervention as a boost to women, who constitute the majority of traders in the market. Her words: “We are very grateful to Government for the intervention. It is going to promote import and export from Atabong beach market, as we will increase our mainstay business of crayfish and also diversify to other goods to grow our incomes.”
The Vice Youth President of Atabong Clan, Prince Edet Effiong corroborated the gratitude and satisfaction of all and sundry across the area to the State Governor, the World Bank, French Development Agency and AKS-RAAMP over their respective roles towards revitalizing the market, adding that “we, the youths are working very well in harmony with the contractors; we have mobilized our internal security to ensure safety throughout the duration of the job because we all love and welcome the project.”
The event featured presentations by AKS-RAAMP; reactions by the community and market leaders as well as an interactive session.
