World Bank, FG launch $600m RAAMP expansion to boost farmers’ market access

To promote rural economic growth and alleviate poverty, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Bank, has unveiled a $600 million expansion of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Nigeria has approximately 200,000 kilometers of rural roads, but only 40,000 kilometers are functional, leaving 87 percent in poor condition.

Addressing this gap, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, announced during a media briefing in Abuja that the expanded project will include $500 million from the World Bank and a $100 million counterpart fund from both the federal and state governments.

Previously, the World Bank committed $280 million to the initial RAAMP phase, which had a total budget of $575 million. The new funding aims to extend the project’s impact from 19 states to all 36 states, marking a significant milestone in rural development and agricultural advancement across the country.

Abdullahi emphasized that the RAAMP initiative focuses on improving rural communities’ access to markets, boosting agricultural productivity, and creating economic opportunities.

The $600 million investment will support the rehabilitation of rural roads, the construction of markets, and other essential infrastructure, ultimately transforming the livelihoods of millions of rural Nigerians.

“This collaborative effort between the World Bank and the Federal Government is expected to have a significant impact on Nigeria’s rural development, promoting economic growth and reducing poverty,” he said.

“This scale-up is intended to institutionalize the idea of developing rural routes in Nigeria. We believe that, if implemented, it will create new development domains and establish new corridors while also developing agricultural clusters that will support our economic diversification drive. This will provide a new pathway for transporting raw materials, food for consumption, and inputs for agro-industries.

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“All of this aligns with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritizes food security, economic growth and job creation, poverty eradication, and inclusivity. These are key areas where this project has the potential to make a significant impact.

“Underscoring the importance of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, he noted that a lack of rural access and mobility has forced youth migration and created high unemployment challenges in urban centers.

“We have a growing level of rural-to-urban migration. If rural areas lack economic activities, the energy and potential of the youth will not be harnessed, and they will leave these villages in search of opportunities elsewhere,” Abdullahi said.

He noted that the project is already ongoing and being implemented in partnership with the World Bank.

“Based on the achievements of the project so far, almost all states of the federation are asking to be onboarded so they can benefit from its success. However, as part of the review, all parties agree that sustainability elements must be included going forward.”