The Federal Government has made it clear that states must contribute 10% in counterpart funding in order to qualify for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP). This condition was outlined by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, during the opening of the 8th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission held in Abuja on Monday.
The minister explained that RAAMP is a key initiative aimed at transforming rural agriculture. By improving market access and infrastructure, the project is playing a vital role in the administration’s priorities of boosting agriculture for food security and enhancing infrastructure to support economic growth. Abdullahi said that RAAMP is already making significant strides in these areas, benefiting both rural communities and the country at large.
In his address, Abdullahi noted that states wishing to participate in the expanded version of RAAMP must meet specific conditions. These include committing to a 10% counterpart funding for the project’s agencies. He further emphasized that states must establish the Rural Access Road Authority and the State Road Fund by law. Additionally, they must provide functional office spaces for the relevant agencies and deposit seed funds to kickstart the project’s activities.
“The states that meet these minimum eligibility criteria will be eligible for a US$30 million allocation, which must be disbursed within two years,” Abdullahi added.
The RAAMP scale-up project aims to cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with plans to construct 10,075 kilometers of roads and 1,040 meters of cross-drainage structures. Additionally, approximately 65 markets will be upgraded as part of the project’s extensive plans to improve rural infrastructure. These efforts are expected to significantly improve the living conditions and economic prospects of millions of Nigerians.
Sali Ibrahim, the Project Manager from the French Development Agency (AFD), also spoke at the event, noting that the meeting provided a valuable platform for states to exchange their experiences and challenges. She emphasized that the AFD remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, continuing its collaboration with the World Bank.
Rakesh Tripathi, the World Bank’s Task Team Lead for the project, reflected on the progress made since RAAMP’s launch. He remarked on the impressive improvements observed, particularly in the coordination among various ministries involved in the project. Tripathi praised the leadership of the Honourable Minister and the Federal Government’s commitment to the project.
Furthermore, Bukar Musa, the Director of the Project Coordinating Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, shared additional details about the mission’s goals. He explained that the mission aims to assess the project’s achievements and identify challenges and possible solutions. Musa also confirmed the approval of an additional $500 million from the World Bank to further scale up RAAMP.
