Akwa Ibom ranks high at RAAMP Annual Performance Retreat
Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP has been ranked among the high performers out of the 19 states currently participating in the project.
This was contained in a presentation on the project’s achievements by the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr. Aminu Mohammed at the 2023 Annual Project Performance Review / Retreat held at De Peace Hotel and Suites, Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Mohammed however encouraged every RAAMP state to redouble efforts, most especially as the project had progressed into its physical construction phase, pointing out that the appraisal was based on the current status of states vis-a-vis the degree of physical construction activities evident in their respective states/award of contracts for tangible construction works.
His words: “That your state soars today, is not the final result because some other states can overtake you from behind in the course of the project implementation. Therefore, all hands must be on the fillip across every participant state in RAAMP to progress her physical construction activities, bearing in mind that the earlier preparatory stage of the project had already consumed much of our time.”
He thanked the World Bank, French Development Agency as well as the Federal and State Governments for investing in the project, describing the Annual Performance Retreat as an all-important exercise aimed at analysing the project’s milestones; evaluate her strengths and weaknesses so as to proffer solutions and the way forward to ensure successful implementation of the project across the country. RAAMP was declared effective by the World Bank in March, 2021 and has a lifespan of five years.
It could be recalled that the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno had flagged off the 11 kilometer Owotuta – Nung Oku Ekere – Afaha Udo Eyop – Edeobom – Utuat market junction demonstration rural road in Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Ibom Local Government Areas, under RAAMP, soon after assumption of office, with a charge that the project should be ready for commissioning as part of activities to mark his first year in office next year. Contract had also been awarded under the spot improvement component of the project, traversing 130 kilometers of roads in various parts of the state – culminating in the ranking by the National Coordinator, as many states are still at various stages of design and procurement.
Earlier in his remarks, the Host State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mallam Abdulquawiy Olodod, had described agriculture as the corner stone of any meaningful development, hence no investment in the sector should be adjudged as too much, pointing out that the State Government was very keen on the success of RAAMP, while the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bill had reached an advanced stage at the House of Assembly. The bill was later passed and assented to by Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazak, Friday, December 22, 2023. The commissioner however expressed concern over the delayed commencement of physical construction works and sued for more stimuli by all stakeholders to that effect.
On his part, the World Bank Task Team Leader, TTL, Engr. Olatunji Ahmed welcomed RAAMP to Ilorin – his state of origin and charged all participants to leverage on the exercise by exploring across board to identify and close necessary gaps for the project to succeed.
Ahmed used the medium to invite all to the marital rites of his children, later at the weekend, as he thanked the authorities of RAAMP for bringing the retreat to Ilorin, describing the gesture as an honour not only to his family but the Government and people of Kwara State at large.
The event featured a number of lectures on cross-cutting themes, notably: Stakeholders Analysis in Policy Formulation and Project Implementation; Performance Monitoring and Review – both by Dr. Ismaila Lawal of LAHASS Consult, among others.
Presentations were also made by departmental specialists at the Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU, particularly on Environmental and Social Safeguards; Technical Engineering Design and Construction; among other issues to fine-tune grey areas experienced in the course of the project’s implementation.
Highlights, away from the retreat were the wedding ceremonies (Walima & Nikkah) and (Ere Osan) of the TTL, Engr. Olatunji Ahmed’s children: Muhktar Kolapo Ahmed; Habeeb Shola Ahmed; Abdulahi Bolaji Ahmed; and Kudirat Adebayo on Friday, December 22, 2023 at the Baseball Stadium, Adewole Estate, Ilorin; while guests were later treated to a luncheon, Saturday at ARCA Santa Arena, Murtala Mohamed road, Ilorin.
