The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, earmarked $600 million for the rehabilitation of 200,000 kilometers of rural roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Principal Information Officer of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ogbuagu Chika, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
During a press briefing in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, highlighted that the World Bank is contributing $500 million to the initiative, while the federal and state governments are providing $100 million as counterpart funding.
Abdullahi explained that the RAAMP initiative, currently operational in 19 states, is aimed at creating sustainable rural infrastructure to support economic development.
“Eighty per cent of the 200,000 kilometers of rural roads in Nigeria are currently impassable, significantly affecting economic activities in rural communities,” the minister noted.
“Most of Nigeria’s population resides in rural areas, with agriculture accounting for over 70 per cent of their economic activity.
However, the lack of functional rural roads severely limits their ability to market produce and sustain livelihoods,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to promote food security, inclusivity, poverty eradication, and job creation.
As part of the project, participating states are required to establish rural access road authorities and state road funds to ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the rehabilitated roads.
The minister disclosed that 16 of the 19 participating states have already passed legislation to create these institutions.
“This partnership with the World Bank is crucial, and given the project’s success so far, many other states are eager to join.
However, all stakeholders agree that sustainability measures must be a key component moving forward,” Abdullahi said.
The National Coordinator of RAAMP, Aminu Mohammed, emphasized that the project primarily aims to improve rural road networks and enhance agricultural marketing in rural areas.
The initiative is expected to transform the economic landscape of Nigeria’s rural communities, addressing critical infrastructure deficits and improving access to markets for agricultural produce.
