Wednesday February 11, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Akwa Ibom State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (AKS-RAAMP) beyond its completion timeline.
The assurance was given by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. (Mrs.) Offiong Offor, while addressing journalists in her office on Monday, February 9, 2026.
Offor disclosed that the State Government has already put robust sustainability mechanisms in place through the establishment of two legally backed agencies; the Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA) and the Akwa Ibom Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA).
According to her, ‘these institutions will ensure that the benefits of RAAMP are preserved and expanded long after the project times out”.
She explained that once the RAAMP lifecycle concludes, the agencies will seamlessly take over maintenance and management, guaranteeing continuous access to quality rural roads and infrastructure for both rural and urban communities.
The Commissioner noted that the RAAMP initiative aligns perfectly with Governor Umo Eno’s vision for agricultural revolution and rural development, describing the Governor as deeply passionate about improving the livelihoods of rural dwellers.
“RAAMP is a people-centred project. Farmers across the State are already reaping its benefits. It has improved rural livelihoods, upgraded infrastructure, reduced travel time, curbed rural-urban migration, opened up communities for businesses and significantly minimized post-harvest losses,” Dr. Offor said.
She expressed profound appreciation to Governor Umo Eno for the timely release of the State’s counterpart funding, as well as to international partners including the World Bank, French Development Agency, African Development Bank, and other development financiers for their investments in the project.
The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) is a collaborative initiative supported by the World Bank, French Development Agency, African Development Bank, and the Akwa Ibom State Government. The project is designed to improve rural road networks, strengthen agricultural marketing systems, boost food production, support smallholder farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase rural incomes through improved infrastructure.
One of the outstanding achievements of the project in the State is the 11-kilometre Owot Uta–Nung Oku Ekere–Afaha Udoeyop–Edeobom–Utuat Market Junction demonstration rural road, which is nearing completion.