The Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (AKS-RAAMP) has held a three-day Progress Review Meeting to strengthen project implementation, accelerate ongoing works and ensure the timely delivery of quality rural road infrastructure across the state.
The meeting, held from October 6 to 8, 2026, at Majesty Realm Hotels, brought together the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), contractors, supervising consultants and other technical stakeholders to review project performance, identify implementation priorities and agree on practical measures for achieving project objectives.
Declaring the meeting open, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, commended the Project Coordinator of AKS-RAAMP and Director-General of the Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA), Apostle Gideon C. Akpan, for raising critical issues requiring collective attention.
Offor, who noted that the state’s prolonged rainy season creates a limited window for effective road construction, urged contractors and consultants to intensify their efforts and use the available dry-season period efficiently.
According to her, the review was not intended to witch-hunt any contractor but to identify challenges, correct shortcomings and ensure that the project moves forward. She urged contractors to respond positively to the issues raised and inject renewed commitment into projects that require improvement.
The Commissioner stressed that rural development remains a major priority of the administration of Governor Umo Eno under the ARISE Agenda, noting that the state government attaches significant importance to AKS-RAAMP because of its potential to improve rural connectivity, agricultural production and access to markets.
She also urged contractors not to allow poor performance to undermine the progress already recorded by Akwa Ibom under the project, stressing that the state’s performance had contributed to its participation in the Scale-up phases of the programme.
“We need to sit up and not let the state down. Where there are challenges, we need to go back to the drawing board and determine what we can do to move from where we are to where we are supposed to be,” she said.
Speaking at the meeting, the Project Coordinator of AKS-RAAMP and Director-General of RARA, Apostle Gideon C. Akpan, emphasised the importance of accountability, teamwork, effective supervision and timely delivery in achieving the objectives of the project.
Akpan said AKS-RAAMP remained committed to delivering durable rural infrastructure that would strengthen connectivity between farming communities and markets, improve agricultural value chains and contribute to the socio-economic development of Akwa Ibom State.
The meeting reviewed project performance, work programmes, mobilisation, quality assurance, material and laboratory testing, survey controls, environmental and social safeguards, contract management and site supervision. Contractors and consultants were encouraged to maintain professional standards and ensure compliance with approved specifications and contractual requirements.
A major outcome of the meeting was the development of clear action points and timelines to address outstanding implementation issues. Contractors were encouraged to strengthen mobilisation and provide realistic work programmes, while supervising consultants were directed to intensify monitoring and provide regular progress reports to the SPIU.
The meeting also reinforced the need for stronger collaboration among the state government, World Bank-supported project structures, contractors, consultants and beneficiary communities to ensure that rural roads are delivered to the required standards and provide sustainable benefits to farmers, traders, women, youth and rural communities.
In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Atim Okoko, who represented the Commissioner on the day two of the meeting, appreciated Governor Umo Eno for his support for AKS-RAAMP, particularly through the provision of counterpart funding that has contributed to the implementation of the project.
Okoko also commended the Ministry of Agriculture and the AKS-RAAMP management for their commitment to ensuring the success of the intervention, noting that the project aligns with the development objectives of the ARISE Agenda.
The three-day Progress Review Meeting therefore reaffirmed the commitment of AKS-RAAMP and its stakeholders to improved project delivery, accountability and quality infrastructure as the state continues to expand rural access and strengthen the connection between agricultural communities and markets.
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