…Agric Minister: Construction of 10,075km roads, 1,040 meters of cross-drainage structures, enhancements of 65 markets underway with RAAMP
By Dele Ogbodo
The Federal Government in collaboration with States Government have expressed optimism of brighter prospect of a further crash in prices of food stuffs and agricultural following revelation that the World Bank has approved fresh $500 million in support of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Speaking on Monday at the 8th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission meeting at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, expressed appreciation to the World Bank and French Development Agency (FDA) who are Nigeria’s development partners, for graciously securing and making available more funds for the proposed RAAMP scale-up project.
The Minister, reinforced that RAAMP will no doubt play crucial and critical role in addressing President Bola Tinubu’s administration which is boosting agriculture to achieve food security, enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.
According to him, this in order to boost agriculture for food security, RAAMP addresses the critical need for improved agricultural practices and market access.
He said: “By enhancing rural infrastructure, including roads, mini-storage facilities, and marketplaces, the project directly impacts the ability of farmers to reach broader markets, thereby, improving their micro-economies.
“This initiative will promote a culture of investment in sustainable farming practices – translating directly to increased food availability and security for our citizens.”
The Minister underscored that in enhancing rural infrastructure and transportation, RAAMP is pivotal in developing rural road networks essential for facilitating the transportation of goods and services, adding that poor road conditions often hinder farmers’ ability to transport their products to market, resulting in decreased income and economic instability.
“By focusing on road construction and rehabilitation, RAAMP aims to enhance connectivity among rural communities and urban markets, lowering transportation costs and facilitating the flow of agricultural goods.
“This means more efficient supply chains and the ability for farmers to engage in larger, competitive markets.
“In addition to the laudable objectives above, RAAMP is championing an innovative policy reform initiative that proposes the establishment by law, of two critical agencies, Rural Access Road Authority (RARA) and the State Road Fund (SRF).
“These agencies, when made operational, will in consonance facilitate the sustainable development, maintenance, and management of rural roads infrastructure investments across the nation. The Ministry is leveraging on the project’s implementation framework to support the participating states in establishing these agencies.” The Minister, said.
Abdulahi, emphasized that the initiative focuses on the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure considering the far reaching effect that climate changes have on our already bad roads.
One of these, he explained is the high cost of the rural road assets. This project is open to all 36 States and the FCT, he added.
“The flurry of interest from these states already underscores the project’s potential to drive widespread economic benefits and improve the livelihoods of millions. By expanding our reach to cover the 36 states and FCT, we aim to create a more inclusive and prosperous agricultural sector that leaves no community behind.
“At this juncture, let me quickly remind us all of the criteria for participation in the forthcoming RAAMP scale up project.
“Each intending state must fulfil the following conditions: establish RARA and SRF Agencies by law in their states provide functional offices accommodation with appointed Directors General, Advisory boards, and staff.
“Provide seed funds to the agencies’ designated accounts for at least three months; and irrevocably, commit to a 10% counterpart funds for the agencies.”
According to him, states that meet these minimum eligibility criteria will receive a $30 million allocation which must be disbursed within two years of effectiveness.
With the ambitious target of improving the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians—through the construction of 10,075 kilometers of roads, 1,040 meters of cross-drainage structures, and enhancements to around 65 markets, we are investing not merely in infrastructure, but in the future of our citizens, he said.
To date, 2,743km of rural roads have been awarded by the states and are currently under different phases of implementation. Your achievements so far toward this goal is evident and well recognized.
“At the Ministry and with President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda, we remain committed to working alongside all stakeholders to develop policies and programs that enable the participation of smallholder farmers in the agricultural marketplace. This is vital not only for their livelihoods but also for our national economy.
“Our commitment to transforming this sector is unwavering, particularly in fostering initiatives that enhance rural access and marketing of not only agricultural commodities, but moving people closer to life’s necessities such as education, health and other social amenities within our communities.” The Minister added.
It is worthy of note that RAAMP is already playing a critical role in addressing two of the priority areas identified by President Bola Tinubu’s administration that is boosting agriculture to achieve food security, and enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.
Fielding questions at the sideline of the event, the Director of Project Coordinating Unit at the Ministry, Mr. Abubakar Musa, the project supervision missions are carried out twice every year with the objective of assessing the journey so far, its achievements and challenges encountered.
This is with the view to resolving such challenges, adding: “Because in such mission all the stakeholders from national office, development partners as well as state offices are around so that we can sit and brainstorm and assess and proffer solution and the way forward as afar as the project is concerned.
On assistance from development partners, the Director, said: “The European Union (EU) is expected to join quite soon but as for now it’s only the World Bank which is the major development partner and the French Development Agency (FDA).
“For your information I would like to use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that the World Bank very recently approved another $500 million for the scale up of the RAAM project because of the cost of consulting materials as well as the number of participating states that are showing interest to be part and parcel of the project.
On food security, he added that prices of food stuffs are usually affected by multifaceted factors but one of the major factor is probably the cost of transportation and access to markets.
“These are areas that the Rural Access and Agriculture Marketing Project is addressing because we want to have perfect roads that our farmers will be able to convey their produce.
“We want to make the markets available and conducive for all transactions and in addition to that the cost of transportation will also drastically reduce if there are good roads and motorable roads.
“In addition the famers will find it easier to convey inputs to the rural areas, to their farms and when these cost are reduced, certainly, it will manifest in the cost of food stuff in the long run.”
