The Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), a World Bank-funded project, is to construct 534 kilometres of rural roads across Benue to facilitate transportation of agricultural produce.
The State Project Coordinator (SPC), Mr Stephen Numbeve, made the disclosure in Makurdi.
Numbeve said that the project would also construct warehouses across the state for the storage of agricultural produce.
“We prioritised the development of engineering road designs for the 534 kilometres of roads we intend to construct. Surveys, geophysical studies, and final designs have been completed.
“With all these in place, we are ready to move forward once the funds are available.
“These roads will connect farms to markets, enabling farmers to transport their produce with ease.
“Beyond roads, we plan to build warehouses where farmers can store fresh or dry produce securely. This infrastructure will significantly boost agricultural productivity and market access.
“The roads span across all local governments in the state. However, there is no specific allocation or sequence for the 534 kilometres.
“These are not trunk A or trunk B roads, which are federal and state roads, respectively. Instead, they are trunk C or D roads designed to create access for farmers to reach markets,” he added.
The SPC said that the slight delay in the commencement of the roads was caused by nonpayment of the counterpart fund by the previous administration.
He said other states had paid their dues and moved ahead, but since the new administration came on board, we have done the needful.
“We are now at the stage of accessing funds from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.
“These funds will be directed toward building roads and markets. So far, we haven’t accessed any funds, but progress has been made.
“While access to funds is a challenge, it’s important to understand that international funding involves statutory requirements.
“These funds are not government resources, so certain prerequisites must be met. For example, counterpart funding is mandatory. If it isn’t paid, the funds cannot be accessed,” he said.
He stated that when he assumed office, there was also the issue of inadequate office accommodation.
According to him, the previous administrative setup did not meet the standards of the International Technological Association (ITA).
He said that they required an exclusive office space to avoid undue political influence.
(NAN)
