Rivers
HOS Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP … As Project Sensitization Team Visit Degema, AKULGA
The Rivers State Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the state to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
She made the call recently durin a sensitization campaign by the state project implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema and Abonnema, headquarters of Degema and Akuku Toru (AKULGA) Local Government Areas respectively.
Dr. Brown, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties, office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.
The Head of Service said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in Rivers State and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
She said the RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, adding that it behoves on every rural communities in the state to embrace and commit to the programme.
Brown also said the programme will support the youths to be gainfully employed, while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Joshua Kpakol, said the programme will create millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the state.
Kpakol, who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP will help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build coldrooms and silos for preservation of crops and fishes, while acess roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence, and child labour, adding that such acts, if they occur, may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the two Local Government Areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke Kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
Represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi, King Agolia said many indigenes of Ke Kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun, Degema Kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema embraced the programme but need more information on its implementation.
Similarly, High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming.
Also speaking, the Community Women Leader, Usokun, Degema, Mrs. Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of coldrooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr. Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways in the area.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, Ikiriko Kelvin called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment.
At both Degema and Abonnema, the two Sole Administrators of the Local Government Areas, Dr. Sokari Ibifuro Francis, for Degema, and Dr. George Tamunotonye Peters, for Akuku Toru, pledged their support for the success of the programme in their respective areas.
John Bibor