Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, on Monday, flagged-off the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads totaling 209.77km, doubling down on his administration’s drive to connect the state’s agrarian hinterlands to the markets in the urban areas and strengthen food security.
The projects are being prosecuted under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), an initiative for which the administration has committed at least N4bn counterpart funds in the last five years.
RAAMP is jointly funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency, with the state government providing counterpart funds.
Governor AbdulRazaq said the investments have yielded the 209.77km costed at N19,404,220,675.55 for the benefits of the people.
The road projects include Alapa-Hoko (0.7km); Madi-Peke (17.5km); Mandala-Yowere-Agbonna (12.485 km); Gerewu-Eiyekorin- Okoolowo Expressway (3.07km); Panada-Oloro ((5.43km); Inaja-Alaro-Inaja Maliki (6.22km); Ijagbo-Aperun-Adeleke- Igbawere (6.85km); Kpandarako-Ginda- Kusomunu- Kachitako- Tsakpata Lealea- Gulufu Bacita (22.89km); and Lafiagi- Effagi – Putata road (9.53km).
Others are Oko Olowo- SokotoTafatafa -Elere-Owode Oja- Baba Kudu- Akopari- Otte Oja road (23.23km); Odo Ode- Soliu-Arogun-Ikotun-Oke Amin-Rondo- Offa road (22.08km); Babanla-Budo Idowu-Alasoro-Owode- Shagbe (10.53km); Kpada-Gakpan (9.58km); and Yakiru-Tabiru-Kenu rural road (59.69km).
“This flag-off for the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads spanning 209.77km and connecting 16 local government areas is the fruit of huge investment, strategic planning, our commitment to rural urban development and food security, and our drive for rapid socioeconomic growth and sustainable job opportunities,” the Governor said in Ilorin at the ceremony which attracted national and state parliamentarians, members of judiciary, cabinet members, and royalties.
Attendees included Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi Saliu; Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central); Lola Ashiru (South); and Sadiq Umar (North); House of Representatives member Mukhtar Shagaya; Grand Kadi Kwara State Shari’ah Court of Appeal Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; cabinet members; local government chairpersons; State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi and other leaders of the party; National Coordinator for RAAMP Engr Aminu Muhammed represented by Hajia Khadijat Isiaq; State Coordinator for RAMMP Engr Isaac Kolo Kusomunu; and President Ilorin Emirate Descendants’ Progressive Union IEDPU Alhaji Abdulmumeen Abdulmalik; among others.
Royalties at the event were the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman State Traditional Council Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, represented by Etsu Patigi Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bolugi; Etsu Tsaragi Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Ndakpoto; Emir of Lafiagi Alhaji Muhammed Kawu; Olupako of Share Oba Olawale Haruna; among others.
AbdulRazaq said the RAAMP project aligns with the government’s commitment to revolutionize rural infrastructure for agricultural development in the state.
The Governor commended the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD) for providing the fund and the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for proper coordination of RAAMP activities in Nigeria.
AbdulRazaq announced that the government will soon award contracts for the construction of three Agro-logistics Centres, one in each senatorial district (Ajase-Ipo, Alapa and Kaiama) and more rural roads that will spread to other LGAs.
“On assumption of office in 2019, our administration immediately paid the first tranche of the counterpart fund. Between 2019 and now, our government has paid the sum of Four Billion, Twenty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Naira (N4,026,891,000) as a counterpart fund. No amount was paid before 2019,” he said.
He urged the contractors and consultants to deliver these projects within stipulated time and design specifications, and urged the host communities to support the initiative.
“For these roads to stand the test of time through quality maintenance, I have signed the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bills into law. I have also approved the constitution of the Boards of the Agency,” he added.
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