Gov. Otti Flags-Off 19.1Killometers Itungwa-Mgboko-Amaise-Amairi-Omona-Ahiaba—Nkwo-Elechi Road
- As you will agree with me, RAAMP is about bringing the markets to the farms, cutting out post-harvest losses and increasing the profit margin of our farmers who would no longer have to travel long distances to access markets in the urban centres. The project is structured to make the State a thriving agricultural hub and effectively expand the volume of investments in the sector. This will in turn create jobs for our teeming youth population and generate wealth for the entrepreneurs who will put our agricultural resources, including large expanses of fertile land, into effective use.
- To sustain the anticipated gains of RAAMP, we have effectively set up mechanisms for the establishment of support structures, including the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) which will see to the continuous maintenance of the roads at the end of the RAAMP cycle. We are also working on the modalities for setting up the State Road Fund (SRF) for the purpose of raising funds for timely maintenance of the roads.
- While it is true that this is a project supported the World Bank, it would be proper to announce that the State has effectively taken ownership of the deliverables. These roads shall therefore be constructed to very high standards to support the anticipated increase in economic activities in the communities. I am also excited to announce that we have since paid the N600 million counterparts funding for RAAMP. I have also approved the release of additional N2.6 billion to facilitate effective project execution and cut down incidences of delays over the entire project cycle.
- To conclude, I would like to express our collective gratitude to every team member whose inputs and sacrifices made the flag-off of this project possible. Commendations are due to the efforts of the State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix, and her team, the State Project Implementation Unit, Senior Officials of the Abia State Government interfacing with the World Bank team, amongst others. Thank you for your hard work, resilience and for putting the State first all through the negotiations. I am optimistic that the same pattern of dedication and sincerity will continue over the project cycle.
- Thank you for listening and may God bless you all.
Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR.
2/10/2024
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