The Akwa Ibom State government has unveiled plans for a large-scale oil palm revolution aimed at transforming the state’s agricultural economy, boosting food sufficiency, and expanding rural prosperity.
The Governor, Emo Uno disclosed this during the inauguration of an 11-kilometre road project executed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi, Eno said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen agricultural production and create sustainable economic opportunities across the state.
He explained that the government has developed a coordinated framework to scale up oil palm cultivation, processing, and marketing across all 31 local government areas.
According to him, more farmers will receive improved oil palm seedlings, grants, and land preparation support to encourage increased participation in the sector.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, noting that communities across the state have continued to benefit from road construction, healthcare, and educational projects.
“The essence is giving Akwa Ibom people services that will improve their quality of life,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, said the state government had fulfilled its counterpart funding obligations under the RAAMP initiative, enabling smooth implementation of projects.
She noted that improved rural infrastructure would help reduce rural-urban migration by creating economic opportunities within local communities.
Offor disclosed that RAAMP has delivered over 202 kilometres of rural roads across 18 local government areas in the state, improving access to farms, markets, and processing centres.
She added that the state had also established 19 road maintenance groups comprising 65 members across 14 local government areas to ensure sustainability and proper maintenance of rural roads.
The commissioner commended development partners, including the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the International Labour Organisation, for supporting the project.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Aminu Mohammed, described Akwa Ibom as one of the top-performing states among the 19 participating states in the programme.
According to him, the state’s strong performance has earned it qualification for the second phase of the project, reflecting consistency and effective implementation.
Mohammed explained that the project combines road infrastructure, agro-logistics centres, and rural markets to improve agricultural productivity, expand market access, and increase income opportunities for rural residents.
