The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has completed more than 202 kilometres of rural roads across several local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, marking a major step in improving rural connectivity and agricultural transportation.
The milestone was highlighted during the commissioning of the 11-kilometre Owot Uta–Nung Oku Ekwere–Afaha Udoeyop–Edeobom 1 Road, which links communities in Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Ibom Local Government Areas.
The inauguration ceremony, held at St. Saviours African Primary School, attracted representatives of the World Bank, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and other development partners who inspected the project and assessed its impact.
Speaking at the event, Governor Umo Eno, represented by the Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi, described the road project as a significant achievement under the administration’s ARISE Agenda.
He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to opening up rural communities, improving access to markets for farmers, and driving economic development.
Key Highlights:
- Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project completed over 202 kilometres of rural roads across several local government areas in Akwa Ibom State.
- The newly commissioned 11-kilometre Owot Uta–Nung Oku Ekwere–Afaha Udoeyop–Edeobom 1 Road connects communities in Ibesikpo Asutan and Nsit Ibom LGAs, improving rural connectivity and transportation.
- Umo Eno said the project supports the state’s ARISE Agenda by improving market access for farmers and boosting rural economic development.
- The project received support from the World Bank and the French Development Agency as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural transformation and infrastructure.
- RAAMP also established three agro-logistics markets and introduced sustainability measures through the Rural Access Road Agency and community-based road maintenance programmes supported by the International Labour Organization.
According to the governor, the newly completed road will ease movement between the two local government areas, enhance the transportation of agricultural produce to urban centres, and strengthen trade among rural communities.
He also commended the World Bank and the French Development Agency for supporting the state government in delivering the project, noting that the intervention aligns with the administration’s vision for agricultural transformation and rural development.
Providing details of the project, the state Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Gideon Akpan, explained that the road stretches from Owot Uta in Ibesikpo Asutan to Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
He said the road passes through seven communities in Ibesikpo Asutan and one community in Nsit Ibom, while also connecting an agro-logistics hub currently under development.
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Akpan noted that the project is part of broader efforts to improve rural access roads and strengthen agricultural marketing systems throughout the state.
He praised Gov. Eno for promptly releasing counterpart funds and creating the enabling environment required for the smooth execution of the project in line with World Bank standards.
The coordinator further disclosed that, beyond the over 202 kilometres of roads already delivered, the state has established three agro-logistics markets at Ekponwa Market, Naira Market, and Atabong Beach Market.
He added that sustainability measures have been introduced through the creation of the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA), while the ILO is supporting road maintenance through community-based employment programmes.
