By Francis Ogwo
Kwara State Government is set to partner with the World Bank for the upgrade of rural roads and markets across the 16 local governments to tune of $60 million, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
This was made known by the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Wednesday during the launch of Alapa-Arobadi road in Asa Local Government.
According to the Governor, the 5.2 kilometres road would be upgraded to surface dressed pavement while adding that his administration had paid N400 million as its counterpart funds for RAAMP to “make these huge interventions.”
At the event, the governor was represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, where he disclosed that: “Under this project, the administration will upgrade 125 kilometres of road to asphalt materials, carry out spot improvement on 450 kilometres of road and routine maintenance on 700 kilometres of road.
“The government will also carry out backlog of maintenance of 200 kilometres of road, five river crossings will be fixed, while existing markets will be upgraded to hubs.
“We cannot claim to promote food security or seek investments from outside when the roads that lead to farmlands and other agricultural settlements are in bad shape,” the governor added.
