The World Bank has set aside $600 million to fix and improve 200,000 kilometers of rural roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
This project’s main objective is to provide easy access to markets and increase food production and supply. The Federal Government is working in collaboration with the World Bank to achieve this.
Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed that the $600 million is not coming entirely from the World Bank. He stated that $500 million will come from the World Bank and $100 million in counterpart funding from the federal and state governments.
He further stated that the RAAMP initiative is currently active in operation in 19 states, but only 16 states have passed the legislation for the project. The initiative focuses on providing a round and sustainable rural infrastructure as well as establishing rural access road authorities and state road funds to ensure road maintenance and sustainability.
Sabi also stated that only 20% of the 200 thousand-kilometer roads are manageable for rural movement, while the remaining 80% falls short of expectations.
He said, “Most of Nigeria’s population resides in rural areas, and agriculture constitutes over 70% of their economic activity. However, the lack of functional rural roads limits their ability to market their produce and sustain their livelihoods.
“This federal component will allow us to intervene in strategic areas of agricultural production that are not prioritised by states due to funding constraints.
“This initiative aligns with the agenda of President Bola Tinubu, focusing on food security, inclusivity, poverty eradication, and job creation.”
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