Governor Umo Eno flag – off RAAMP demonstration road in style
The setting was more reflective of a carnival than an officious congregation.
There were colourful sights of various attires and flex banners of several sizes, bearing sundry inscriptions. A good number of traditional displays, notably the ekpo masquerade and abiakpo, among other cultural parades were prominent. An array of English brass bands also added colour, with assorted performances. These and other ancillary groups provided sufficient entertainment for the mammoth crowd.
Meanwhile, it could be observed most of the guests had been seated already since about noon, while the event was scheduled for 4PM.
The exercise featured a very healthy attendance drawn from policy makers in government, traditional rulers, captains of industries, senior citizens, men, women and youths as well as groups and associations. And ultimately, when Governor Umo Eno arrived the venue, he needed to spend quality time exchanging pleasantries with the diverse range of stakeholders, while waving at others who were seated far off – all in an effort to appreciate the crowd for such a massive turnout at the event.
Above was an eyewitness attempt to describe the scenario at St. Saviour African Church Primary School, Edeobom 1, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area – venue for the official flag – off ceremony of the Owotuta – Nung Oku Ekere – Afaha Udo Eyop – Edeobom – Utuat market junction demonstration road, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP held on Tuesday, July 04, 2023. As its name implies, the demonstration road would simply serve as a model to exemplify the workability of RAAMP so as to establish how best to realise a successful implementation of the project in the state.
The road traverses seven communities: Owotuta, Ikot Okubo, Itoko, Ikot Ikere, Afaha Ikot Owop and Afaha Udo Eyop – all in Ibesikpo clan, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area and Edeobom 1 in Edeobom clan, Nsit Ibom local Government Area. The road also links Ekponwa market – one of the hubs which has been prioritized for transformation into an ultramodern market status, under the project.
RAAMP is a jointly funded project by the World Bank, French Development Agency and 19 states currently participating in the project across the country. The project debuted in the country as Rural Access and Mobility Project, RAMP, in 2008, with just two participant states.
Five more states later joined the scheme during the implementation of RAMP-2 and thereafter, lessons learnt from both phases made it imperative to scale up the scope of the project to accommodate the “Agricultural Marketing” component and review its name to Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP. The project was declared effective in March, 2021 and officially launched at Abuja in November, 2022, while Akwa Ibom had joined the scheme in 2017.
In his flag-off remarks, Governor Umo Eno thanked the World Bank and French Development Agency for conceiving RAAMP, pointing out that the project’s objectives were in consonance with the ARISE agenda of his administration. ARISE is an acronym, where “A” represents Agricultural Revolution; “R” – Rural Development; “I”- Infrastructural Maintenance / Advancement; “S”- Security Management; and “E” – Educational Advancement.
He acknowledged the protracted years of delay earlier experienced in the course of implementation of the project, but described as significant, the ultimate readiness of the project to advance into her physical construction phase soon after his assumption of office as Governor.
His words “I am aware that this project started some years back, but it is bearing fruits in our time. For me, that is very significant, as it means that everything we touch in this administration will bear fruits,” adding that he would leave no stone unturned in his support for the project to deliver the goods on schedule.
The Governor reiterated his determination to keep faith on his social contract with the people, as he encouraged farmers to register themselves with the Department of Agriculture – Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, AKIKORP, pointing out that grants and loans would soon be disbursed through the Ibom FADAMA Micro-Finance Bank to assist them grow their farms.
“The current administration of the state will not benefit idle people. I encourage our youths to engage themselves in meaningful ventures and key into the trend. Registration with AKICORP is free. Please do not pay a dime for the form. The only condition is that they will want to know your farm to ascertain what you do for proper categorization and documentation.”
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr. Aminu Mohammed, represented by the Project Coordinator of Cross River State RAAMP, Engr. Charles Ogongo, expressed satisfaction with the massive audience at the event, describing same as an indication of acceptability and ownership of the project by the generality of the people.
He applauded the Governor for swinging into action promptly, soon after coming on board, as he appealed to farmers to take advantage of the project and leverage on their economic wellbeing. “RAAMP is for farmers and rural people. Farmers should take advantage of it,” he said, as he pledged the continued support of the Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU to ensure smooth implementation of the project across the state.
On his part, the agro-logistics consultant of the World Bank, Prof Mohammed Babagana observed that according to research, about 30 – 40 percent of agricultural produce is lost due to poor facilities, pointing out that at the long run, the development objectives of RAAMP would commit such issues to history, among other things.
He commended Governor Umo Eno on his ARISE agenda and quick action, having hit the ground running immediately upon assuming office, as he reassured the state of the World Bank’s determined commitment to the project.
The State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Pastor Gideon Akpan noted that following the official flag-off ceremony, 130 kilometers of roads; 80 meters cross drainage structures and other indices of development would be ready for awards within the next three months across the 31 Local Government Areas of the state.
He expressed appreciation to Government for investing in the project and assured that the State Project Implementation Unit would live above board to deliver on its mandate accordingly.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Mary Ukoette Bassey commended the Governor for the huge strides recorded within just a month in office, while extending appreciation to the immediate past administration of the state, under the leadership of Mr. Udom Emmanuel for identifying and keying into the project.
Earlier in her remarks, the chairman of Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, Hon. Otobong Aaron, flanked by her Ibesikpo Asutan Counterpart, Hon. Akon Asuquo described the project as a welcome development, as it would reopen the Ekponwa market access roads for to regain her glory, which had been lost over the years.
“The people of Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan are predominantly farmers. This road would therefore bring a new lease of life to the people of the area to transport their produce easily from their farms to the market,” her speech read in part.
In his goodwill message, the member for Nsit Ibom State constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Eric Akpan paid glowing tributes to Governor Umo Eno for flagging-off the project within so short a time since coming on board as Governor, describing same as unprecedented and pledged to do their utmost best to support the project.
Similarly, the member for Ibesikpo Asutan and House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Hon. Ubong Attah, pledged his support to RAAMP and the ARISE agenda and expressed optimism that the road would be completed on schedule.
Highpoints of the ceremony was the presentation of farm produce to the State Chief Executive by women of both Local Government Areas and a physical display of the flag-off exercise, as Governor Umo Eno operated the heavy duty excavator to kick-start the job along the 11 kilometer demonstration rural road.
It could be recalled that contract for construction of the road had been won by china Roads and bridges corporation, CRBC, while Yaroson Partnership were responsible for the designs.
In an interview on the sidelines of the flag-off, the Managing Director of CRBC, Mr. Zhou Hao thanked the State Government and RAAMP for the award and pledged that his company would live above board to deliver on the job promptly.
On their parts, the pioneer Champion of the Rural Access Roads Agency, RARA, Mr. Ndiana-Abasi Udom; the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Amos Etuk, who is also an indigene of Edeobom; the clan head of Ibesikpo, Etebom Nsidibe Etuk; and the immediate past member for Nsit Ibom state constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Ifiok O S Udoh – all expressed appreciation with the project and pledged their utmost support.
Present at the event the Deputy Governor – Senator Akon Eyakenyi; the State Chairman of PDP, Hon. Aniekan Akpan; Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly – Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem; Secretary to the State Government – Prince Enobong Uwa; Head of Civil Service – Elder Effiong Essien; a cross section of other present and past public office holders; Staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and RAAMP as well as staff of CRBC and Yaroson Partnership; among others.
From the foregoing, it is gratifying to note that the state seems to have been adequately prepared and receptive of the project, in view of the substantial crowd during the flag-off ceremony, as earlier observed by the National Coordinator of RAAMP. This is indeed heart-warming and actually needs to be sustained.
Consequently, it becomes quite important to re-emphasise that all stakeholders: State and Local Governments; royal fathers; senior citizens; opinion leaders; men, women and youths as well as groups, non – governmental organizations and corporate bodies across the state must stimulate actions in concert with the new administration of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno to embrace, support and protect the project with a view to realising the prime essence of the state’s enrolment in the project.
This is quite essential, if the state is required to profit from her investment in the scheme, considering the proposed target of 2026 for closing out of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP at the expiration of its tenure of five years.
