Sunday July 12, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
A joint team of the World Bank and Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU have expressed satisfaction with measures taken by the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, AKS-RAAMP in resolving grievances that might have arisen as a result of construction works in the course of the project.
They gave the nod recently, during a three-day working visit to the state on July 07 – 10, 2026 and also applauded the relocation of marketers of Ekponwa market in Nsit Ibom LGA to continue their businesses at a temporary site, while reconstruction of the market would last, describing same as in conformity with standard safeguard protocols of the World Bank.
The team further hailed AKS-RAAMP for the establishment of Grievance Redress Committees, GRCs, strategic pasting of official phone numbers to encourage feedback from the public as well as her engagements with a wide stratification of the market and community stakeholders, to promote effective communication and build public confidence in the project.
It could be recalled that three markets, spread across the three senatorial districts of the state are currently undergoing transformation into standard, ultramodern agro-logistics centers by AKS-RAAMP. These include: Ekponwa market in Nsit Ibom, Naira market in Ikono and Atabong beach market in Okobo Local Government Area.
The Bank team was led by the Task Team Leader, TTL and Senior Transport Specialist – Nana Soetantri, while the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr. Aminu Mohammed led the FPMU team.
The team however expressed concern with the delay by a cross – section of contractors handling a good number of jobs, describing same as unsatisfactory and advised them to redouble their efforts for the prompt delivery of their jobs.
At Ekponwa market, the team frowned at the slow pace of work, pointing out that there was no much difference from their last visit, as part of their sideline inspection of projects, during the official commissioning of the 11 kilometer Owotuta – Nung OKU Ekere – Afaha Udo Eyop – Edeobom – Utuat market junction demonstration road earlier in May, this year.
In the words of Engr. Aminu: “If there is no considerable difference within the next three weeks – one month as we have all agreed, we will prompt a project determination process for this job,” adding that “ahead of the commencement of RAAMP SCALE-UP, which Akwa Ibom ranks among the leading qualified states, it is important that all ongoing projects be completed in readiness for the award of contracts for fresh jobs for the benefit of the state.”
Highlights of the visit were: spot interactions with marketers and people of the community as well as inspection of the temporary market site and some ongoing projects.
Other members of the Bank team were: Alphonse Soh – Co TTL and Lead Transport Specialist, Olufunmilola Ayoola – Social Safeguards Specialist, Abdulmalik Ibrahim – Transport Specialist and Ahmed Abdullahi – Environmental Specialist, while the FPMU team included:.Engr. Salisu Abubakar – Agro-logistics Officer, Engr. Irabor Emmanuel – Procurement Officer, Chinedu Olisah – Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Waziri Ali – Social Safeguards Officer, Lawal Adeboyega – Environmental Safeguards and Tijani Aminu – Regional Advisor (North).
AKS-RAAMP, led by the State Project Coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan, consultants and contractors were equally on hand, responding to questions and comments as the needs arose.