By: Theresa Donatus, Uyo.

In a bid to strengthen rural road sustainability, enhance safety standards, and promote community-based employment, the Akwa Ibom State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (AKS-RAAMP), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has concluded a two-day intensive training programme for Road Maintenance Groups (RMGs) across the state.

The training, which began on Monday, March 30, 2026, ended today at Majesty Realm Hotels, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, focuses on the administration of First Aid as well as the operation and maintenance of tricycles and roller compactors used in rural road maintenance.

Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Offiong Offor, described the initiative as a strategic intervention under the administration of Governor Umo Eno to deepen rural development in line with the ARISE Agenda.

She noted that the training would not only improve the technical capacity of the beneficiaries but also ensure safer work environments, urging participants to take the exercise seriously to maximize its benefits.

Offor commended the State Project Implementation Unit of AKS-RAAMP for its commitment and performance, which she said had earned the state commendation from the Federal Project Management Unit. She encouraged the team to sustain the momentum.

In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator of AKS-RAAMP, Gideon Akpan, disclosed that Akwa Ibom was selected as one of five pilot states for the implementation of the road maintenance scheme based on its strong development indices and enabling environment.

He explained that the project is currently executing over 202 kilometres of rural roads across 18 Local Government Areas and has established 19 Road Maintenance Groups comprising 65 members in 14 LGAs as part of its sustainability framework.

According to Akpan, the essence of the training is to equip the RMGs with the knowledge and skills required to handle emergencies on project sites and effectively operate and maintain maintenance equipment provided under the scheme.

“Work environments can be unpredictable and sometimes hazardous. It is therefore necessary that our road maintenance personnel are equipped with first aid skills to respond promptly to emergencies,” he said.

He further explained that the sustainability model of the project is anchored on community participation, with local residents engaged to maintain roads within their areas, thereby creating employment opportunities and ensuring ownership of infrastructure.

The training, facilitated by officials of the Nigerian Red Cross, covered a wide range of modules including introduction to first aid, basic life support (BLS), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), treatment of wounds, fractures and burns, road accident response, bandaging and splinting, as well as emergency simulation exercises.

The Red Cross team noted that first aid involves immediate and temporary care given to an injured person before professional medical treatment is available, emphasizing its critical role in saving lives, especially in remote areas.

A major highlight of the event was the official presentation of dump tricycles to the Road Maintenance Groups by the Commissioner for Agriculture. Offor charged the beneficiaries to ensure proper use and maintenance of the equipment, stressing that they are strictly for project-related activities.

Also speaking, Akpan disclosed that the project has secured approval to commence larger-scale maintenance works, which will involve qualified contractors handling major repairs, complementing the efforts of the community-based maintenance groups.

He added that the initiative is expected to improve the movement of agricultural produce from rural communities to markets, reduce post-harvest losses, and boost farmers’ incomes.

The programme, he said, would also help reduce rural-urban migration by providing jobs within local communities and strengthening rural economies.

Other dignitaries present at the event included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP, Dr. Mrs. Atim Chelly Okoko; representative of the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ekemini John; Ms. Glory Offong Ambah of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation; as well as officials of ILO, AKS-RAAMP, and members of the Road Maintenance Groups.

The training is expected to enhance the capacity of participants and ensure the long-term sustainability of rural road infrastructure across Akwa Ibom State.