Redefining  Rural Roads Accessibility, Economic Prosperity  Through RAAMP

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The importance of rural development cannot be over emphasised in the socio economic growth of any society. Apart from the fact that it will enhance the social wellbeing of the rural populace, it will bring government closer to them so as to feel the impact of good governance to the rural communities.

This is why various government at all levels have been designing a strategic plan that would assist such government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the rural communities in their various states.

Also, various agencies of government and world bank assisted projects associated with the rural development have decided to extend their partnership gesture to various levels of government in order to alleviate the sufferings and reducing poverty levels among the rural communities through series of interventions in the areas of the opening of rural roads, construction of modern markets among others as a way to ease transportation and boosting economic viability of the rural dwellers.

No wonder, upon assumption of office on May 29, 2019, till date, the  administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has put a strategic plan on the need to open up rural communities through roads construction and marketing opportunities that would assist the rural dwellers in the state to have a new lease of life.

This stand has gone a long way of enhancing transportation of rural dwellers produce to get to the nearby market and thereby creating wealth among the rural communities in the state.

It would be noted that the plan has also reduced rural migration to urban communities since they could have access to various social amenities that would boost their social wellbeing.

The administration, however, decided to seek the World Bank’s collaboration through the rural intervention by the implementation of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP)

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, (AFDA) and State Governments of each participating state in Nigeria with payment of counterpart funds.

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

As of today, the state has remained  one of the 19  participating states in the country in the implementation of the RAAMP.

Between 2019 and now, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji  AbdulRazaq has paid the sum of N6,150,235,000.00 as counterpart fund as part of condition to assist the state government  to access funds for the RAAMP projects in the state.

And for these roads under the RAAMP projects to stand the test of time through quality maintenance, the Governor AbdulRazaq has also signed the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bills into law and approved the immediate constitution of the Boards of the Agency.

The programme was formally declared effective on March 16, 2021  after the payment of  the first tranche of the counterpart fund.

A new office was put in place headed by a civil engineer, Issac Kolo and since assumption of office, Engineer Kolo has been working round the clock towards ensuring the implementation of the policy thrust of the present administration on RAAMP so as to add values to the socio economic growth of the rural populace.

Also,  seven Hillux  vehicles were provided by the government in support of the project’s mobility and effectiveness of the day to day implementation of the programme across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The main objective of the  RAAMP programme in the state under review is to improve livelihoods by enhancing rural access for smallholding farmers and micro agro-processors.

This  also involves improving transportation of agricultural inputs and technology to boost productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, increasing prices through value addition, and creating youth employment to alleviate poverty among the rural farmers in the state.

It will be noted that, since the commencement of the programme in the State of Harmony, the programme has yielded positive results on some rural communities.

Most of the  roads in the rural areas  have been opened up  and consequently allowing farm produce to reach the urban communities without any hindrance and thus boosting the economic development of the rural communities.

However, to end rural-urban migration through quality road infrastructure, it would be recalled that, on Monday, 21st October, 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 is the fruit of huge investment, strategic planning, commitments to rural urban development and food security. It is a strong drive for rapid socioeconomic growth and sustainable job opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Hydraulic Structures, which includes Culverts and Concrete Line Drains have  attained 80% completion as work is ongoing as regards earth works and Surfacing.

Presently, RAAMP, in Kwara, has awarded the contract for the construction of three Agro-logistics Centres, to be upgraded to international standards.

One in each of the senatorial Districts starting with Ajase-Ipo market in Kwara South, Alapa market in Kwara Central and Kaiama market in Kwara North. Today, construction work had commenced and reached an appreciable stage at the three markets.

 Also, the ongoing construction works were carried out in phases, for which the first phase of the road projects already under construction began with the Backlog. Maintenance/Rehabilitation of rural roads of 66.5 Km in Asa, Ilorin West/East, Oyun and Edu Local Government Areas of the State, and the benefitting communities under these local governments are Mondala-Yowere-Agbonna 12.485 Km; Gerewu-Eiyekorin-Okolowo Express 3.069 Km; Panada-Oloro, 5.428 Km; 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; totalling 66.46 Km.

The RAAMP  has also upgraded  rural roads of 18.2Km in Asa Local Government, Alapa–Hoko 0.7 Km, Madi–Peeke 17.5 Km, totalling 18.2km altogether.

The great news about these projects is that, almost of the aforementioned roads  construction and upgrade ones have been completed and being used by the rural populace in the state.

Speaking  with  journalists in  Ilorin on the  journey  so far on the  ongoing rural roads prroject , the state’s RAAMP Project Coordinator, Engineer Kolo said that, “Inaja-Alaro/Inaja-Maliki road   as I am talking to you today, the road is about 60 percent completion.

“In the same Oyun Local Government, we have Ijagbo/Aperun/Adeleke road which is 6km, the earth works will start in the next two weeks and we expect that by April ending, contractor should have been done with those roads in that axis.

“We have a road that link Asa to Offa through Odo-ode/Soolu, the road is about 22km, the road is 25 percent completion at this moment, the contractor has started the surfacing, we expect that before this month runs out, they would have finished about 7km surfacing”.

“We have Gerewu/Eyenkorin express way, Hydraulic Structures are completed. The contractor is resuming earth works this week, by April, the contractor should have finished that road because it is about 2.4km.

“We have Mandala/Yowere road which is 12.4km. 3km is ready for surface dressing and the contractor promised that all things being equal, the road will be completed by June this year with surface dressing.

“We have Madi/Peke road which 18km. The axis of Madi/Peke is 17.5km, while another 700km road  from Alapa/Oko which would be asphalt because it is a major road. I told you that it is the traffic volume that determines the asphalt”.

Kolo added, “As I am talking to you today, out of 17.5km in Madi/Peke road, the contractor has finished 6km asphalt and according to information because we are going there today, the contractor wants to to another 6km before April.

“We have another road, Sokoto/ Tafatafa, from Express to a Village called Sokoto, to Owode Oja and then from Owode Oja linking Otte, the road about 23km, as I’m talking to you, the Hydraulic Structures is 98 percent completion, the earth work has started on 8km that would be first to finish and very soon, they would start the surfacing.

“Also, we have Alapa market Project which will be completed by April, so, both Alapa and Ajase market will be commissioned by April or May, depending on when His Excellency will ready”.

 “We have challenges last year about the review of rate and the contractors were not on the sites for about six months. We have resolved everything and our contractors are working now”

Going to Kwara North, Kolo said,  “we have a road which about 39km from Yakiru to Tabiru which is the border community between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

“Then, there is another road from Tabiru to Keno in Baruten Local Government. It is like a trianglar triangler road. The road is very important because it leads to the border of another country.

“And the contractor is doing a fantastic job. All the adjourning  structures are completed, the earth works are ongoing”.

He said, “Three of our roads stop at earth work, that road is one of them. As I told you that the main purpose is to create access but the investment in that road is huge, the Hydraulic Structures, culverts which is 16 in number in the road which also 16km.

“In all 39km, we have 36 culverts being constructed.The contractor has done 80 percent job and we believe by April, he should have finished the road.

“We have Kaiama market in Kaiama Local Government, the contractor has left the site because of insecurity but we are planning how to arrange for the security for him to resume back”.

He explained  that, “In Edu, we have one road from Pandarako, Bachita, it’s 23km road. The contractor has done 30 percent but left the site because of the insecurity before, now, they are back to site

“Also, in Edu we have a road from Lafiagi to Pututa, its riverine area. Presently, they have done with Hydraulic Structures, they should start the earth works any moment from now.

“We have another one Patigi from Kpada to Gapan, we are not asphalting it, we are not surfacing it, we will just give them a dirk that will be accessible even with car at any time.

“Those are roads and we have reached appreciable levels and by the grace of God, by May this year, we start commissioning our projects”.

He said that, aside from the problem of insecurity, the issue of fluctuation in the price of construction materials is a very big challenge and distance of some of our projects affecting the transportation of materials from where they are produced to the site. That has been a major challenge that we have.

“But God is helping us to find solutions with the cooperation of the state government, Federal Project Management  Unit(FPMU) and the World Bank.

Speaking on the impacts of the projects on the communities, he said “I want to tell you that villagers are very happy because there is no government in Kwara State that has touched the lives of rural dwellers like this government via RAAMP.

“I’m happy that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State values what RAAMP is doing because he said in a public gathering that he has touched every area with the RAAMP project and you can see that we have gone to the nooks and crannies of the state.

“People are happy and people are clamoring for more. People could access social amenities like hospitals, schools, and markets easily.

“Rural-urban migration has reduced because lack of access to social amenities is the major reason for the migration. The journey of one  hour has reduced to 15 minutes.

“RAAMP projects have reduced the traffic time of the people in the rural areas. It has affected the economy positively because farmers decide what they want to sell at will and they can access the market at any time.

“The villagers themselves admitted vehicular movement has improved and it has shortened the movement, while the traveling time has also reduced.

“Let me thank His Excellency for having special interest in this project. I can tell you that in the whole states participating in this project, Kwara is number one”.

He emphasised  that, “Except the states that were given priority to do pilot roads, Kwara in moving and progressing seriously.

“We have the highest counterpart funds and if any contractor raises any certificate today, he will be paid within one week.

“We thank God for His Excellency for his interest in this project. He doesn’t delay our memo because of his love for the beneficiaries who are the rural dwellers”.

He pointed out that, “Some of the local governments that were not captured presently are not totally exempted because there is what is called scale up. We compiling roads that would constructed under scale up. So, the project will get to every local government.

“Like Isin, Ekiti and Oke-Ero, Moro and Ilorin South have not been captured and they would benefit in the scale up which will start after the closure of this one by June.

“As it is today, the government has given its maximum support because we have enough counterpart funds to complete this project except if we have unforeseen circumstances that will warrant us to ask for more which is already in this year’s budget.

“So, the state government has been very supportive. See our Hilux vehicles, even,  they will deliver another Hilux vehicle for us. We have mobility, we have every thing that we can call maximum support.

“The only area which I know the state government is doing its best to address is the insecurity which is a general problem in the country.

“Aside from that, government has given us maximum support, that why you see that our workers are on top of their works and very committed”.

He said, “At this point, let me thank our workers here, like the infrastructural unit, procurement unit, accounting unit, the consultant, among others, for doing a fantastic job. By May this year, we will start commissioning our projects”.

Kolo added, “The quality of works being executed by the contractors are good, some of our projects have become museums now.

“Like in Baruten, people go from Oyo State and see the road that leads to the border community.

“There is one Alhaji, they said he is an old man  from Saki, when he learned that the road that leads to the border community is being constructed he said they should take him to go and see for himself, that since he was born the road has been in deplorable state and didn’t know that in his lifetime, the construction will come to that place. We ensure quality control in our projects.

“At this point, I want to advise the beneficiaries of these roads to these projects as their own. They should take ownership of them.

“They should not allow them to be cut by anybody because once you cut the road, the road is damaged.

“We have given them a lot of education and sensitization because the contractors will finish and collect their money but they would be users of the roads. So, they maintain the roads at all times”.

Meanwhile, some of the rural dwellers who spoke with our correspondent on the programme lauded the present administration for bringing government closer to them through the opening of their rural roads.

Alhaji Bello Iyanda, a native of Ogele in Asa local government area of the state who spoke in local language commended Governor AbdulRazaq for bringing life back to them.

He said that, “Most of us here are farmers and with the rehabilitation of roads, we can now have access to bring our farm produce to market with easy.

“There is no doubt that we are now economic buoyant in terms of selling our farm produce on time when compared with past years when we didn’t have access to roads in our community”.

In her remarks, Mr. Samson Kufu in Patigi area of the state said that, “We are happy for the opening of our roads in Patigi local government area as we can now take our agricultural products to market without any problem”.

He also used the occasion to urge the state government not to relent on its efforts at opening more rural roads in the state so as to reduce poverty among the rural populace.

The execution of various projects under the RAAMP in the state have gone a long way of boosting the economic development of the rural populace. It has also reduced urban migration in the state as all the roads networks across the rural communities have been opened for economic activities.