The Bayelsa State Government has assured the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP) of its commitment to meeting its counterpart funding obligations for development projects across the state.
The Deputy Governor, Peter Akpe, gave the assurance in Yenagoa when a delegation from RAAMP paid a courtesy visit to the state government at the Government House.
Akpe said the administration of Governor Douye Diri would continue to prioritise infrastructure development, particularly the construction of roads and bridges needed to connect communities across the state.
He said Bayelsa’s difficult terrain had made infrastructure development challenging, but noted that the government had continued to pursue partnerships with organisations and institutions to address the state’s infrastructure deficit.
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According to him, collaboration with development partners, private organisations and government agencies remains an important part of the administration’s approach to delivering projects.
The deputy governor also commended RAAMP for its efforts to improve rural connectivity, strengthen agricultural activities and create better links between communities in the hinterland and Yenagoa.
He, however, urged development partners to take Bayelsa’s unique geographical challenges into consideration when allocating funds to participating states.
“One of the approaches the Prosperity Government has adopted… is partnership; we are partnering with well-meaning organisations, institutions, and individuals,” Akpe said.
“We are among the states that have met the criteria set for this particular programme… I want to assure you that we will take care of those areas, including counterpart funding. You should not be afraid of that at all.”
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Akpe said the state was currently constructing roads and bridges across rivers, rivulets and swampy areas to improve access to local government headquarters and other communities.
He added that RAAMP’s focus on rural roads and agricultural access was consistent with the state government’s broader economic development plans.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and RAAMP Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Chinedu Olisah, said participating states that met the programme’s requirements could access $600 million in donor support.
He said the funding comprised $500 million from the World Bank and $100 million from the Federal Government.
Olisah commended the Bayelsa Government for meeting some of the programme’s key requirements, including the establishment of governing boards for the Bayelsa State Rural Access Roads Authority (RARA) and the State Road Fund (SRF).
He urged the government to provide a take-off grant for the RARA office to enable it to begin full operations.
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Olisah also recommended that the administrative offices of RARA and the SRF be merged to improve coordination, while calling for the prompt release of the state’s counterpart contribution to the programme.
