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By Joe Effiong, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State government’s investment and participation in the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has begun to yield dividends, with the signing and award of the first road construction contract, under the scheme.
The 11.0 KM Owotuta–Nung Oku Ekere–Afaha Udo Eyop–Edeobom–Utuat Market junction road, which traverses Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Ibom local government areas, was won by China Roads and Bridges Corporation Nigeria Limited (CRBC.)
At the signing of the contract yesterday, Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, described the award as a milestone achievement by the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
He said this was given the delayed take-off of the project since the state joined the scheme in 2017 and subsequently the protracted duration of four years before the project was declared effective in 2021, among other foot-dragging experiences in the course of implementation.
Offor thanked the World Bank and French Development Agency for conceiving the project and called on all stakeholders to co-operate and support the scheme throughout its five-year tenure and even beyond to promote sustainability.
She expressed her appreciation to Governor Emmanuel for his foresight to have discovered and invested in the project even as she equally expressed satisfaction that the pioneering signatures for the award of contract to commence actual construction works on the roads and other protocol, though long and tortuous, had been accomplished before the end of the current administration.
