FG urges states to commit 10% funding for RAAMP participation

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The Federal Government has reiterated the need for states to provide 10 per cent counterpart funding to qualify for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Speaking at the opening session of the 8th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, highlighted the project’s critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity and rural infrastructure.

“RAAMP is already playing a critical role in addressing two of the priority areas identified by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration: boosting agriculture to achieve food security and enhancing infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth,” Abdullahi said.

To participate in the project’s scale-up, he stated that states must “irrevocably commit to a 10 per cent counterpart fund for the agencies.” Additionally, they are required to establish the Rural Access Road Authority and the State Road Fund through legislation, provide functional office spaces, and deposit seed funds.

“States that meet these minimum eligibility criteria will receive a US$30 million allocation, which must be disbursed within two years of effectiveness,” he added.

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The expanded initiative will cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting the construction of 10,075 kilometres of roads, 1,040 metres of cross-drainage structures, and upgrades to approximately 65 markets. This is expected to enhance economic opportunities and improve the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.

During the event, the Project Manager from the French Development Agency, Sali Ibrahim, praised the mission for fostering collaboration among states.

“This is an opportunity to share experiences between different states that don’t usually have the same issues or the same context,” Ibrahim remarked.

She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural sector through ongoing collaboration with the World Bank.

World Bank Task Team Lead for the project, Rakesh Tripathi, acknowledged the strides made since the initiative began.

“Four years ago, when I looked at the SBIUs, I thought, everybody’s coming from different ministries… but where we were four years ago compared to where we are now, I think it is a huge improvement and achievement,” Tripathi stated, crediting the Honourable Minister for the programme’s success.

He further lauded the Federal Government’s commitment to providing 10 per cent of the project’s funding, adding, “It is always good to have a minister who is a leader of the programme.”

Director of the Project Coordinating Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Bukar Musa, explained that the mission serves as an avenue to evaluate progress, challenges, and possible solutions.

Musa also confirmed the approval of an additional $500 million from the World Bank to support the RAAMP scale-up.