Victoria Mbangwa
The Nigerian government, in partnership with the World Bank, has announced a $600 million investment aimed at expanding rural road infrastructure to support agricultural growth and improve market access for farmers.
The funding is part of the next phase of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), which will focus on transforming rural economies by enhancing the road networks that are critical for food production and distribution.
Dr. Aliyu Abdulahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, emphasize during the weekend that the project is crucial for fostering rural development and curbing the growing trend of rural-urban migration. With more than 70% of Nigeria’s population residing in rural areas, the initiative seeks to create sustainable infrastructure that directly benefits communities dependent on agriculture.
Abdulahi pointed out that while agriculture is the backbone of rural economies, many areas suffer from poorly maintained roads that hinder farmers’ ability to get their produce to market.
He said, “Most of Nigeria’s population resides in rural areas, and agriculture constitutes over 70 per cent 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.
“It is been implemented in 19 states, and it is a very strong collaboration with the World Bank, and based on what the project has achieved thus far, almost all the states of the federation are asking for onboarding, so they also can benefit from the massive success of this project’s delivery.
‘’But as part of the review, all parties are in agreement that we must include sustainability elements going forward.”
Aminu Mohammed, the National Coordinator of RAAMP, also highlighted the importance of improving rural road networks not just for transportation, but for boosting agricultural marketing at the grassroots level. He noted that enhanced roads would help farmers get their products to market faster, ultimately increasing incomes and fostering rural development.
