The Mayor, Chief Sunny Afurobi, has applauded the Abia State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP, for capturing some rural roads in Umunneochi local government for construction.
Speaking at the Council headquarters, Nkwoagu, recently, during a Stakeholders Engagement forum, led by the Honourable Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix,
in Preparation for the Construction of 8.9 kilometres Backlog Maintenance Roads, the Mayor, Chief Sunny Afurobi, described the agency as a collaborative partner for rural development.
The Mayor who appreciated Governor Alex Otti, for paying the counterpart fund that gave rise to the capturing of the roads for construction in different parts of the state, further called on the leaders of various communities benefitting from gesture in the council to take up the ownership of the roads and protect both the Contractors and their Equipment.
He made it clear that once the road construction starts, he will from time to time monitor the progress of work in the affected communities to ensure maximum security, quality, and timely delivery of the road projects.
Chief Afurobi however encouraged the Contractor handling the project to ensure that the locals are engaged in both materials and service procurements and appealed to RAAMP and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction Management to include more community roads from other zones in Umunneochi are in their 2026 and 2027 project plans.
The Mayor who used the opportunity to intimate the Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Commissioner, Mrs Blessing Felix, of what his administration has done in engaging the Youths, and providing sustainable and enduring empowerment programmes for them, however requested the Commissioner to think out other ways her Ministry can partner with Umunneochi local government towards creating better life opportunities for his people.
He assured that with signature projects being institutionalised in different parts of Umunneochi, expressed confidence that the people of the Council will repay the present administration with their votes in future elections.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Hon Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, noted that RAAMP projects are World Bank Sponsored Projects for community development, noting that Abia is among the benefitting States in Nigeria.
According to her, the state government has paid it’s counterpart funds of about ₦4.1 billion naira which has enabled the projects, ongoing in the state which will be completed in record time.
Mrs Felix named the roads to be constructed including; 2.55Km Oba junction – Umumaduako – Umumeze road, and the 5.20Km Orie Ngodo market – Obinohia Umudim – Lomara road, making it a total of 8.9Km road, adding that the standard of the road is stone based asphalting, with Solar Lights installed along the roads for security purposes.
In his speech, the Contractor and Managing Director, Hensec Construction Engineering Company, Engr. Omini John Bassey, who asserted that all preliminary activities towards commencing the road projects have been perfected, disclosed that they will conclude the project early May, 2026.
Contributing, some community leaders including Ichie Linus Onyeama, Ichie John Onwukwe, and the Councillor, Amuda, Hon David Mba, thanked the Governor, Dr Alex Otti, RAAMP Management and the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation for capturing their communities pro in the programme, and pledged to do all within their abilities to ensure a seamless commencement and completion of the project.
In a vote of thanks the RAAMP Project Coordinator, Mrs Amarachi Monday Kalu, represented by the HOD, Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Obinna Aguoha, thanked the Mayor, Chief Sunny Afurobi for providing them with the needed conducive environment for the meeting and for the hospitality accorded them
