The Atta Oro and Paramount Ruler of Okobo local government area of Akwa Ibom state, His Eminence, Edidem Ita Okokon, has applauded governor Umo Eno, for investing in the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (AKS-RAAMP).
He noted that the dividends of the project has manifested in the ongoing construction and physical improvement of Atabong beach market in Okobo LGA.
Edidem Okokon, expressed the appreciation in his palace, during a citizens engagement forum organised by AKS-RAAMP for stakeholders of the market and its environs “to strengthen their buy-in, support and cooperation with a view to enhancing the seamless progress and accomplishment of the project.”
The monarch pointed out that “Atabong beach market is the center-point of crayfish in Nigeria,” noting that “people come all the way from Abuja and Lagos to buy here.
Igbo people, Cross River and others also come here.”
According to the traditional ruler, “without the governor’s determined focus on rural development and his fulfillment of relevant World Bank protocols, AKS-RAAMP would not have been empowered to intervene on the market.”
He also expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements by ,government in the provision of gunboats to patrol the waterways, regretting that infiltration of the market and the environs by sea pirates had been detrimental for business activities over the years.
“I want to advise that when the market is completed, let the governor keep one gunboat at the centre between Ishiet and Oron, which is the entrance to Atabong to further guarantee security,” he appealed.
In the same vein, the Atabong Clan Council’s woman leader and medium scale crayfish trader, Obonanwan Affiong Etim Asuquo, described the intervention as a boost to women, who constitute the majority of traders in the market.
“We are very grateful to the government for the intervention. It is going to promote import and export from Atabong beach market, as we will increase our mainstay business of crayfish and also diversify to other goods to grow our incomes.”
The Vice Youth President of Atabong Clan, Prince Edet Effiong, conveyed the gratitude and satisfaction of all and sundry across the area to the State governor, the World Bank, French Development Agency and AKS-RAAMP, for the gesture.
“We, the youths are working very well in harmony with the contractors; we have mobilised our internal security to ensure safety throughout the duration of the job because we all love and welcome the project,” he assured.
