AKS-RAAMP MOVES TO CONNECT SEVEN COMMUNITIES WITH 8.2 KM ROAD PROJECT ACROSS ETINAN, UYO LGAs
Physical construction activities have commenced on the Ikot Ekan – Ikot Akpanya – Ikot Ebo – Ikot Offiong – Minya – Ikot Eyienge – Ikot Nsung – Urua Usung road in Etinan and Uyo Local Government Areas, under the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, AKS-RAAMP.
The job was rolled on after a stakeholders engagement / sensitisation exercise was organised for communities along the road corridor by AKS-RAAMP led by the State Project Coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan at Ikot Ekan civic center, Friday October 25, 2024, featuring the official presentation of the project contractors and consultants, as part of the finalising protocols for concrete physical commencement of the job.
AYF Development Nigeria Limited are the project contractors while Yaroson Partnership are the consultants.
The pre-construction awareness exercise is a prime requirement under the project and seeks to foster mutual cooperation, strengthen understanding and reduce friction among stakeholders to ensure the seamless implementation of various intervention activities under the project.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and State Attorney General / Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uko Udom; the State Chairman – Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON and Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo; and the host Local Government Area – Etinan, Hon. Uko Umo among other high profile dignitaries attended the event.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Hon. Uko Umo expressed disappointment over the prevalent practice of wanton vandalisation of public properties for illicit private gains; disruptions in the course of development projects; among other negative attitudes by certain categories of people over the years, describing same as not only very unwholesome but the bane of progress across the Local Government, the State and Country at large.
“As the Executive Chairman and Chief Security Officer of Etinan Local Government Area, we will leave no stone unturned towards ensuring that such activities are crushed. Henceforth, all village heads, men, women and youths must be alert to stem such inglorious tide, as you all know the good, the bad and the ugly characters around you. We will mobilise Government Authority to fish people out and send culprits to jail. That nonsense must stop,” he warned, adding that it was a high time stakeholders should rather galvanize support and cooperation even as all should further develop and cultivate ownership to public projects for overall best results.
He thanked the World Bank and French Development Agency for conceiving RAAMP and also commended the State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for keying into the project to catalyse development across our rural communities, as he pledged utmost support and commitment to the project.
On his part, the State Chairman of ALGON and Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo reiterated on the importance of support and cooperation for the project to succeed and sued for all stakeholders to mobilise concerted support to the project, while placing the interest of the community above any individual interest in the course of the job for best results. His words: “This road is an economically viable project as it cuts across the agricultural production hub in Uyo Local Government Area. We have suffered untold hardships over the years as a result of bad roads. Let us therefore take ownership and guard this project jealously, taking advantage of the opportunity to possibly canvas for intervention on other roads to gain more patronage as against the reverse.”
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uko Udom further canvassed support and cooperation with AKS-RAAMP, considering the strategic role established by the project towards alleviating the plights of farmers through the improvement of rural roads to ease the conveyance of produce by farmers from their farms to the markets.
Earlier in his presentation on the topic, “Roles and Overview of RAAMP; Responsibilities of Contractors; the State Project Implementation Unit, SPIUs; Consultants and Communities,” the State Project Coordinator of AKS-RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan enumerated, communicated and explained the duties of respective stakeholders in the project, adding that the event was aimed at building trust and confidence, strengthen cooperation and reduce friction among all stakeholders to facilitate a hitch-free progress of the job.
He thanked the World Bank and French Development Agency for the project and the State Governor, Pastor Gideon Akpan for granting him and his team the opportunity to serve, as he pledged utmost commitment to deliver on the assignment.
Highlights of the event was the definitive statement of commitment to the project by the respective communities which the road cuts across, while the Director of AYF Development Limited – Engr. Ekpenyong Ekpenyong, who spoke on behalf of the project contractors and consultants pledged prompt delivery of the job in line with specifications, as he thanked all stakeholders for the opportunity to serve.
AKS-RAAMP team thereafter proceeded to evaluate compliance with safeguard protocols at the contractors site camp in line with standard practices.
