The World Bank has approved a $500 million concessional loan aimed at enhancing rural road infrastructure in Nigeria.
The facility is issued as part of the Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Project-Scale Up (RAAMP-SU) program of the World Bank. The project will also be supported with an additional $100 million from the Nigerian government. The aim is to draw sufficient resources to address the deplorable state of infrastructure in rural communities across the country.
The statement from the World Bank made available to 9am News Nigeria read: “The World Bank has approved $500 million in concessional financing for the Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Project- Scale Up (RAAMP-SU) in Nigeria, the Government of Nigeria will finance an additional $100 million towards the project. This program aims to improve sustainability in the rural road sector by supporting states in establishing and operationalizing State Road Funds (SRF) and State Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA) and equipping the states and the Ministry of Agriculture to create a culture of maintenance and long-term infrastructure planning.”
The loan was approved on December 13, 2024, in order to provide vital intervention to the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s roads. Over 80% of roads in Nigeria’s rural communities have been assessed to be in abysmally poor conditions.
These infrastructural shortfalls are worsened by inadequate funding and the debilitating impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather conditions which has taken a significant toll on the road infrastructure.
The project is focused rebuilding these rural roads using climate-resilient technology. These improved technologies will lessen the longterm effects of climate change, while also improving connectivity in rural regions.
The RAAMP-SU program aims to maintain, upgrade, construct or rehabilitate up to 6,500 kilometers of rural roads across various states. This will help improve access to markets, healthcare, stimulate the economy and generate employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
The program will also foster a more sustainable approach to road maintenance and long-term infrastructure management.
The program is projected to benefit an estimated 4 million residents of rural communities, including farmers, transport operators, and market participants.
Part of the project’s agenda is to improve women’s access to healthcare, reduce maternal mortality and enhance women’s participation in economic activities.
Speaking about the rural roads project the World Bank country Director for Nigeria, Ndiamé Diop said “Rural roads play a critical role in connecting agricultural land to market infrastructure, thereby helping to improve food security. Rural road interventions like the RAAMP-SU will enable socioeconomic development for isolated areas and act as a catalyst for creation of growth centers.”
“The project will support improved access to the market, leading to an increased volume of traded agricultural products, farm gate prices, and household income, and reduce harvest losses. We are pleased to support this program as it has the potential to create jobs and improve the income of millions of Nigerian.”
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