Gov. Makinde Inaugurates Committee on Rural Roads Rehabilitation

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde says plans are underway to construct and rehabilitate about 1,000 kilometres rural and farm roads to expand the state economy through a Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Governor Makinde stated this in Ibadan while inaugurating the state project monitoring and technical steering committee as well as relaunching of RAAMP. 

The governor, who is also the chairman of the committee in the state, emphasised that all projects initiated under RAAMP would be of quality that would as well stand the test of time.

Governor Makinde noted that the current post harvest losses being experienced by farmers would be addressed with the RAAMP policy.

Earlier, the project coordinator, Dr. Yode Moses-Ayanlowo said the vision of the project was to enhance productive capacity and facilitate rapid rural development.

Dr Moses-Ayanlowo noted that the project would upgrade rural roads and improve connectivity and access to local markets on agro-business services in thirteen states.

In a keynote address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Vice chairman, administration for the committee, Mr Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle said the re-launching of RAAMP was an indication of the current administration’s commitment to improve  the agricultural sector.

Mr Ojemuyiwa added that the initiative would encourage more investment in agro-business and alleviate poverty for rural dwellers in the state.

The RAAMP initiative is a Federal Government sponsored project under donor agencies such as World Bank, French Development Bank, African Development Bank with a 12% counterpart fund from interested states and a seven year life cycle.

Iyabo Adebisi