The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is accelerating efforts to deliver 4,000 kilometres of rural roads under the $575 million Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a key initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains and boosting rural economies.
Speaking at the 10th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission in Abuja, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, described the project as a strategic investment aligned with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said the initiative is designed to improve productivity and enhance market access for rural farmers.
Abdullahi noted that the government’s declaration of a state of emergency in agriculture underscores the urgency of addressing infrastructure gaps, particularly poor road networks that hinder efficient movement of farm produce and limit rural incomes.
According to him, about 1,500 kilometres of roads have been completed so far, while the remaining 2,500 kilometres are expected to be delivered by December 2026 in line with funding timelines.
The minister revealed that over 11.5 million Nigerians have already benefited from the project, citing reduced transportation costs, increased trade, and improved access to essential services in rural communities.
He added that RAAMP has evolved into a reform-focused financing model, introducing institutional frameworks such as Rural Access Roads Agencies and State Road Funds to ensure sustainability and long-term maintenance of infrastructure.
In addition, 38 reform laws have been enacted across participating states to strengthen governance, while more than 61,000 kilometres of rural roads have been digitised to improve monitoring and transparency.
To further enhance sustainability and job creation, the government is implementing community-based road maintenance programmes in partnership with the International Labour Organisation, covering about 500 kilometres across five states.
Development partners are also scaling up support. The Islamic Development Bank and the European Investment Bank have joined the programme, with the latter committing €150 million in funding.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has secured an additional $600 million to expand the project nationwide, broadening infrastructure coverage and reinforcing ongoing reforms.
World Bank Task Team Lead, Rakesh Tripathi, stressed the need for efficient utilisation of funds, noting that the project has about 18 months remaining and must accelerate disbursement to maximise impact. Civil works are currently at approximately 40 per cent completion.
AFD Project Manager Sally Abdo Ibrahim said the project has moved past initial delays into a more stable phase, urging stakeholders to focus on quality execution and financial discipline.
National Coordinator of RAAMP, Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, disclosed that the project is active in 19 states and has surpassed its initial target of 8.2 million beneficiaries, reaching over 11 million people.
He added that contracts for more than 4,000 kilometres of roads have been awarded, while 39 agro-logistics centres—designed to improve storage and supply chain efficiency—are under construction and expected to be completed by mid-2026.
The RAAMP initiative, scheduled to run until December 2027, is expected to drive rural economic inclusion, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen market integration across Nigeria.
Stakeholders emphasised that sustained collaboration, fiscal discipline, and timely project execution will be critical to unlocking the full economic benefits of the multi-million-dollar investment.
