By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Monday flagged off the construction of 12 roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), totaling 203 kilometres of rural roads across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Bala Mohammed said the RAAMP project is more than a road construction initiative, describing it as a catalyst for connecting communities, boosting rural economies, and laying the foundation for lasting prosperity.
Speaking in Gamawa, headquarters of Gamawa LGA, during the flag-off of the second phase of the RAAMP projects in the state, the governor noted that the initiative aligns perfectly with his administration’s Bauchi Project I & II, which focus on agricultural modernisation, enhanced governance, youth employment, poverty reduction, and sustainable infrastructure.
Governor Mohammed regretted that rural roads in Bauchi had suffered decades of neglect, often becoming impassable during the rainy season. According to him, the situation resulted in farmers losing produce, students struggling to reach schools, and sick individuals failing to access timely medical care. He assured that "The era of rural isolation is now over."
The governor further revealed that a modern market has been approved for Gamawa under the RAAMP intervention, adding that the contract for its construction has already been awarded.
He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the World Bank and other partners for supporting the RAAMP programme and reaffirmed his administration's commitment to transparency, accountability, and value for money.
Also speaking, the national coordinator of RAAMP, Engr. Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, commended Governor Bala for his remarkable leadership and steadfast support for the project.
He disclosed that Bauchi State has so far disbursed over N6 billion in counterpart funding, one of the highest in the country. This includes more than N3.8 billion into the Rural Access Road Agency Fund and over N3.5 billion into the State Road Fund, both of which have been fully operationalised.
Represented by the National M&E Officer, Mr. Chinedu Olisah, added that "These achievements place Bauchi among the top-performing states nationwide in terms of institutional readiness, capacity, and effective implementation."
Engr. Mohammed added that the expansion of RAAMP reflects the confidence international development partners have in Nigeria's ability to deliver transformative, market-enabling rural infrastructure.
He assured that RAAMP remained committed to improving rural mobility, strengthening agricultural market linkages, and enhancing livelihoods across the country.
For his part, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Rural Development and Special Duties Faruq Mustapha said the administration has so far flagged off 134 kilometres of strategic rural roads most of which have reached appreciable completion levels.
Governor Bala outlined the second phase of the RAAMP project as Mararraban Liman Katagum - Polytechnic - Katsinawa -Mararraban Dajin 26.8km road, and Sasatau - Gambaki - Chinade - Gangai 14. 75km.
Others are Gamawa - Sakwa 28 km road; Misau - Beti - Galangal 14.45km; Giade - Basawa 6.6k road; Yana - Faggo 6.65km; Mararraban Dajin - Dajin 6.7k; Dot - Bado - Gwaram - Baraza 36.65k; Lanzai - Papa 26km, among others.
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