By Peter Adelowo
The Federal Government has called on states to commit ten per cent counterpart funding to qualify for participation in the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, stated this at the opening session of the 8th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission in Abuja.
Senator Abdullahi, underscored the crucial role RAAMP plays in transforming rural agriculture by improving access to markets and enhancing infrastructure.
He also stressed that states must establish the Rural Access Road Authority and the State Road Fund by law, provide functional office accommodations, and deposit seed funds for the agencies, adding that States that meet these minimum eligibility criteria will receive a US$30 million allocation, which must be disbursed within two years of effectiveness.
The World Bank’s Task Team Lead for the project, Mr. Rakesh Tripathi, highlighted the significant progress made since its inception.
Also, Project Manager from the French Development Agency, Mrs. Sally Ibrahim, while commending the opportunity accorded states to share their experiences, however reiterated the AFD’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector, emphasizing its continued collaboration with the World Bank.
Director of the Project Coordinating Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mallam Bukar Musa, provided additional insight into the mission’s goals, explaining that it serves as an opportunity to assess achievements, challenges, and potential solutions.
