Niger State Governor,Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello has reiterated his administration commitment to infrastructural development in rural areas in other to improve social economic activities in the state.
He expressed this at the flagging off of the Community-based Rural Roads Maintenance Scheme, held at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Center, Minna.
Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello applauded the first phase of Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) in which 176 kilometres of rural roads were constructed adding that the project has continued to enhance the economic growth of rural communities in line with the state government’s policies and programmes.
“It is pleasing to know that the project has been helping to enhance and empower our local communities through the community-based rural roads maintenance model which has been supporting us with the engagement of the people with the rehabilitation of the rural roads across the state”.
Governor Sani Bello said, through the launching of the second phase of RAMP, there is certainty that the deteriorating nature of the rural roads will be reversed in other to bring succor to our rural communities and, particularly our farmers .
He also said that the state government will increase its capacity, to reduce cost and increase road connection across the state stressing that the project will serve as a means of reducing rural poverty and enhance agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of RAMP, Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu explained that RAMP 2 is created to improve transportation conditions and bring sustained access to rural population through rehabilitating and maintaining key rural transport infrastructure in a sustainable manner.
He further stated that the Community-based Maintenance Scheme being launched, with about 15 roads maintenance industrial cooperative groups, is a testimony of the employment generation drive of the present administration.
He said, to encourage RAMP participation in the state, the World Bank has taken up the challenges of the rural road maintenance by funding it100% for the first 2 years, 50% for the third and fourth year while the state government will only compliments the funding of the third and fourth year by 50%, after which it will take over 100% financing of the roads’ maintenance.
