RAAMP: Bauchi, FG and Partners Flag Off Construction of 318 km Roads

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

Bauchi Government has disbursed over N6 billion in counterpart funds to support the construction of hundreds of kilometers of rural roads across the state.

This was disclosed by Engineer Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, National Coordinator of the World Bank (WB) and French Development Agency (AFD)-assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP).

Mohammed, who made this known in Gamawa on Monday at the inauguration of 203.47km RAAMP Phase II projects across 12 new rural roads in the three senatorial districts in the state, said the amount was one of the highest nationwide.

He explained that the flag-off ceremony of the Phase II projects was a demonstration of Governor Bala Mohammed’s remarkable leadership and strong commitment to the RAAMP project. 

He assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving rural mobility, agricultural marketing linkages and livelihood for millions of the country’s rural citizens under the RAAMP projects.

He revealed that Bauchi State provided and operationalised the sum of N3.8 billion to the Rural Access Road Agency Fund and N3.4 billion for the State Road Fund respectively.

“The Bauchi State Government has been prompt in meeting its counterpart fund obligations among the benefiting states and has received commendations from the partners as one of the best-performing states among those participating in the RAAMP project nationwide,” he stated. 

“The state has inaugurated its RARA and SRM boards, appointed a Director General and provided one of the best office accommodations for both institutions in the country.

“These achievements placed Bauchi among the top-performing states in institutional readiness and sector reform implementation.

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“Bauchi has become a national model for rural access governance. The Federal Project Management Unit and our development partners sincerely appreciate Governor Bala Mohammed’s unwavering political will and partnership.”

The Phase II projects being inaugurated comprise 24 km Lanzai-Papa road, 14.45km Misau-Beti Maladunba road, 28km Gamawa-Sakwa road, 14.75km Dargazu Gambaki-Chinade-Gangai road, 6.68km Yana-Fago road and 6.6km Giade-Tagwaye road. 

“Others are 4.91km Gadar Maiwa-Zakara road, 25km Dagu-Ningi road, 36.65km Dott-Dado-Baraza road, 8.86km Nabardo Gadan Doka Jama’a road, 6.71km Mararraban Dajin-Dajin road and 26.8km Mararraban Liman Katagum-Poichi-Kastinawa road. 

“The roads will open critical agriculture corridors, reduce travel time, boost harvests, improve access to school, markets and healthcare, and stimulate economic activities in all the three senatorial districts”

The RAAMP National Coordinator explained that as part of the RAAMP initiative, and with Bauchi State as a key partner, agro-logistics markets would also be launched across the three senatorial districts to support agricultural value chains. 

Speaking in Gamawa shortly before he flagged off the ceremony, Governor Bala Mohammed said the project represented more than physical infrastructure. 

“The flag-off of the Phase II projects represents our vision of a Bauchi State where no community is left behind; where development is fair and balanced and driven by the needs of the people with equity and balance,” the governor stated. 

“We are grateful to the Federal Government, the World Bank and all development partners because these roads are the artery of opportunities.

“For decades many rural communities suffered neglect, roads became impassable during the rainy season, farmers lost produce, students struggled to go to school and sick people could not get timely medical attention. 

“This era is over. RAAMP aligns with our My Bauchi Project 1 and 2 transformative agenda in agricultural modernisation, good governance, youth empowerment, poverty reduction and sustainable infrastructure. 

“It is not just about roads but boosting rural communities and laying the foundation for lasting prosperity. We acknowledge the crucial role of the World Bank and the Federal Government, that is why we insist on transparency, accountability and value for money which are our guiding principles in procurement—using little and doing much.”

It will be recalled that in September 2023, the Governor launched the pilot phase of RAAMP in the state with the inauguration of the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD)-supported 19km Luda-Lekka Road.

The RAAMP project is being implemented in collaboration between the Federal Government  and the Bauchi State Government to improve rural access and agricultural marketing in selected participating states.

The project aimed  to strengthen the financing and institutional frameworks for the effective development, maintenance and sustainable management of rural road networks.

On August 23, 2024, five new rural roads totaling 115km were inaugurated, namely 30.33km Charachara Ragwam Magwanshi-Lafiya Road, 25.80km Mainamaji-Badara-Kuka-Pali Road, 18.88km Akuyam-Gwaram-Hardawa Rural Road, 15.00km Durum-Nahuta Rural Road and 25.00km Garin Gami-Gadai-Madufa Rural Road.