Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has unveiled plans for a large-scale oil palm development programme aimed at strengthening economic growth and improving food sufficiency across the state.
The governor disclosed this during the inauguration of an 11-kilometre road project executed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in Nsit Ibom.
Represented by Deputy Governor Akon Eyakenyi, Eno said the initiative forms part of the administration’s broader agricultural transformation strategy designed to improve livelihoods and create wealth in rural communities.
According to him, the government has mapped out plans to expand oil palm cultivation, processing and marketing activities in all 31 local government areas of the state.
He explained that farmers would receive improved oil palm seedlings, financial support and assistance with land preparation to encourage greater participation in the sector.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s resolve to sustain infrastructure development across the state, stressing that ongoing projects were intended to improve living conditions for residents.
“Every local government area in the state has benefited from impactful projects, including roads, schools and hospitals. The essence is to give Akwa Ibom people services that will improve their quality of life,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, said the state government had fulfilled its counterpart funding obligations for the RAAMP initiative.
She noted that improved rural infrastructure would help reduce migration from villages to urban centres by creating economic opportunities within local communities.
Offor revealed that the project had delivered more than 202 kilometres of rural roads across 18 local government areas in the state.
“We have established 19 road maintenance groups comprising 65 members across 14 local government areas to ensure sustainability and proper maintenance of rural roads,” she said.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to the World Bank, the French Development Agency and the International Labour Organization for supporting the programme.
Also speaking, National Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Aminu Mohammed, described Akwa Ibom as one of the top-performing states among the 19 participating states in the project.
He stated that the state’s performance had earned it qualification for the second phase of the programme, describing it as evidence of effective implementation and consistency.
Mohammed explained that the project combines road construction, agro-logistics centres and rural markets to drive agricultural productivity and improve economic opportunities for rural residents.
