AKS-RAAMP MONITORING AUTHORITY HAILS PROJECT COORDINATOR OVER COMMITMENT, DEXTERITY
The State Project Monitoring Committee, SPMC of Akwa Ibom Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, AKS-RAAMP has given a pat on the back to the project coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan over his dexterity, commitment to duties and general management acumen in moving the project forward.
This among other things were contained in the committee’s resolutions at the end of her third quarter meeting-in-council for this year, held recently in Uyo, the state capital.
Other major highlights during the session included deliberations on Government Counterpart funds; Measures to strengthen the supervision / oversight roles by the committee for maximum results; Proactive best practices to minimize possible challenges, grievances and other issues to promote a seamless implementation of the project.
The committee commended the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for his determination and commitment to AKS-RAAMP and pledged to complement Government’s efforts by being on top of their assignment to facilitate an efficient and effective delivery of the project in the state.
The session also featured a presentation by the State Project Coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan on the “Implementation Status of the Project.” A summary of his presentation indicated that progress of work on the 11- kilometer demonstration rural road had advanced beyond 70 percent; the scope of works on the 110.92 kilometers of roads awarded under the Spot Improvement component of the project would be reviewed upwards; 36.76 and 28.05 kilometers of roads were involved in the first and second phases of Backlog Maintenance jobs respectively; while 16.09 kilometers of roads had been advertised for construction under the upgrading component of the project.
He said evaluation of bids was also ongoing for the construction of three agro-logistics centers – Ekponwa market at Nsit Ibom; Atabong beach market at Okobo and Naira market at Ikono Local Government Areas, pointing out that Akwa Ibom was the first among all the states currently participating in the project to have been granted approval to progress with the procurement process that would culminate in the construction of agro-logistics centers.
The SPMC is made up of permanent secretaries of line ministries around the project, with Mrs. Mary Ukoette Bassey – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as chairman. Others include: Ministries of Finance; Works and Fire Service; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Economic Development; Water Resources; Women Affairs and Social Development; Trade and Investment as well as the Office of the Deputy Accountant General of the State, who also serves as Head – Project Finance Management Unit, PFMU of AKS-RAAMP. The committee also has representatives from the private sector and civil society organisations as members – all aimed at rendering oversight functions on the State Project Implementation Unit, SPIU of AKS-RAAMP for best results.
