As part of effort to provide transport system in the rural areas to fast track easy mobility of agricultural produce, the World Bank yesterday disclosed that it would inject $190 million in? its Rural Access and Mobility Project(RAMP) in the country.The second phase? of the project would be implemented in? Adamawa, Niger, Enugu, Osun, Cross River, and Kaduna States.
Disclosing this yesterday in Abuja at a national workshop on the Development of the rural Travel and Transport Programme (RTTP) Implementation Plan in Abuja,? the World Bank representative, Engr. Tunji Ahmed, said that the bank was collaborating with Nigeria in order to provide good roads so as to assist farmers to transport their goods.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, added that the growth of national economy depended to a large extent on stimulation of the rural economy and enhancement of the income and standard of living of the majority of the population.
The minister noted that in line with the agriculture transformation agenda of the president, the roads would not be allowed at this time to stand on their own, but would? link the value chain clustered project areas in each state of the federation in order to create a viable network of rural roads in the country.
The National Coordinator RAMP, Engr Ubandoma Ularamu, mentioned that the implementation of the programme in Kaduna and Cross river States revealed that given the right guidance, funds and the right staff, states could sufficiently address the challenges posed by rural transport infrastructure development and management.
