Kwara Invests N4 Billion in Rural Road Infrastructure

The Kwara Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), Project Coordinator, Dr Isaac Kolo, says that over N4 billion has been paid as the state’s counterpart fund for RAAMP from 2019 to date.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that RAAMP is funded through contributions of the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank, and the L’Agence Francaise de Development (French Development Agency) (AFD).

State governments in Nigeria also participate with the payment of counterpart funds.

Kolo stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin at the 47th Media Parliament of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara Council.

The programme was themed “Ending Rural-Urban Migration Through Quality Road Infrastructure”

The project coordinator said that the first phase of the project, with a lifespan of a year, had commenced in selected rural areas.

He stated that the ongoing project had created job opportunities for people in rural communities with the engagement of the services of over 400 enumerators to ease the agency’s job.

“RAAMP, a six-year programme, was formally declared effective on March 16, 2021. It was co-financed by the World Bank to improve rural access and trading infrastructure in participating states.

“On assumption of office in 2019, the Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration immediately paid the first tranche of the counterpart fund.

“Between 2019 and now, the government has paid the sum of four billion, twenty-six million, eight hundred, and ninety-one thousand Naira (N4,026,891,000) as counterpart fund.

“Initially, 13 states started the programme and were joined later by six other states to make the present 19 beneficiary states.

“To end rural-urban migration through quality road infrastructure, it would be recalled that on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, Kwara RAAMP flagged off the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads totaling 209.77km.

“As the upgrade of rural roads of the 209.77km is connecting the 16 Local Government Areas, it is the fruit of huge investment, strategic planning, commitments to rural urban development and food security.

“It is also a strong drive for rapid socio-economic growth and sustainable job opportunities,” Kolo said.

He said the ongoing constructions were carried out in phases, while the first phase of the road projects already under construction began with the backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of rural roads of 66.5 Km.

According to him, the rural roads are located in Asa, Ilorin West/East, Oyun, and Edu Local Government Areas of the state.

Kolo explained that the benefitting communities under the local governments include Mondala-Yowere-Agbonna 12.485 Km; Gerewu-Eiyekorin-Okolowo Express 3.069 Km; and Panada-Oloro, 5.428 Km.

“Others are Inaja-Alaro-Inaja maliki, 6.215 Km; Ijagbo-Aperun-Adeleke-Igbawere 6.85 Km; Kpandarako-Ginda-Kusomunu-Kachitako, Tsakpata Lealea-Gulufu-Bacita, 22.89 Km; and Lafiagi-Effagi-Putata Road, 9.525 Km; totaling 66.46 Km.

“Meanwhile, the upgrading of rural roads in Asa Local Government, Alapa–Hoko 0.7 Km, Madi–Peeke 17.5 Km, is totaling 18.2km altogether.

“As we speak, RAAMP, as an agency, has also advertised the construction of three agro-logistics centers in Kwara, to be upgraded to international standards, one in each senatorial district.

“The upgrade will start with Ajase-Ipo in Kwara South, Alapa in Kwara Central, and Kaiama in Kwara North.

“The released counterpart fund is to assist the state government through RAAMP, a World Bank-assisted project, for the upgrade, rehabilitation, and construction of roads in rural communities.

“RAAMP is aimed at connecting the 16 Local Government Areas of the state and in turn, discourage the tendency for the influx of rural dwellers into urban cities,” he said.

The project coordinator added that AbdulRazaq signed the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bills into law.

He said the governor also approved the immediate constitution of the boards of the agency for the ongoing rural road projects to stand the test of time through quality maintenance.

“The state government entered into collaboration with the World Bank to make life meaningful for its people.

“It will also ensure that nobody’s future is mortgaged as a result of implementing the project in the state,” he said. (NAN)