Date: 2021-01-17

The sum of $60million is to be spent under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Kwara State.

This was made known during the flag-off of the 5.2km Alapa-Arobadi pilot road in Asa Local Government Area by the State RAAMP Coordinator, Engr Abdulwahab Akorede.

He noted that the 5.2km Alapa-Arobadi road would improve rural access, trade as well as reduce post-harvest losses.

"Kwara State is the first among the 13 participating states in Nigeria to commence the 6-7 year project with expected credit of $60m for each state.

"RAAMP will no doubt transform the rural lives in Kwara State," Akorede said.

Speaking earlier, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the project would see to the construction of 700 kilometres of rural roads in the state.

"Under this project, the administration will upgrade 125 kilometres of road to asphalt or sealed materials, carry out spot improvement on 450 kilometres of road and routine maintenance on 700 kilometres of road.

"The government will also carry out the backlog of maintenance on 200 kilometres of road, five river crossings will be fixed, while some existing markets will be upgraded to hubs," "All of these are to be done in partnership with the World Bank and other international donor agencies.

"The projects are worth US$60m and would be spread across the 16 local government areas of the state in phases," he said.

"We cannot claim to promote food security or seek investments from outside when the roads that lead to farmlands and other agricultural settlements are in bad shape.

"We cannot claim to seek a brighter future for future generations when our schools and other enabling infrastructure are in shambles."

Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, described the initiative as laudable as it would open up rural areas and improve socio-economic activities in the hinterlands.

The National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr Aminu Muhammad thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his exemplary leadership in paying counterpart funds for the RAAMP initiative, promising to offer the needed technical support to Kwara State.