From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, says no fewer than 285 rural roads have been selected for construction, rehabilitation and expansion in the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Governor Amosun made this known on Wednesday, when he spoke at a stakeholders meeting on Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP3), held at the Obas Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
According to him, the roads, with the additional 500km rural roads to be constructed by the Access and Mobility Project of the World Bank, would improve and fast-track industrialisation of the state, particularly in the rural axis.
The governor, who described good road network as catalyst for rural development, noted “the project would enhance agricultural development and help ease movement of agricultural produce and also benefit the local contractors who would be awarded contracts”.
He, however, reiterated that his administration would continue to collaborate with development partners to espouse projects capable of consolidating agricultural value chain.
Earlier, the deputy governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, who equally supervises the ministry of Rural Development, explained that the World Bank RAMP was geared towards reducing rural-urban drift.
Presenting the re-validation report on the project, the project consultant, Dr. Emmanuel Adeyemo, commended the State government for surpassing the criteria required by the World Bank which includes government performance on road construction and the State fiscal responsibility and procurement bill.