From Taiye Joseph Ilorin
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq inaugurated the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads covering 209.77 kilometers, underscoring his administration’s commitment to infrastructural development and boosting food security.
The roads span the state’s three senatorial districts and are designed to connect rural farming communities with urban markets.
The projects, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), are jointly funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency, with the Kwara State Government committing over N4 billion in counterpart funds since 2019. The total cost of the road projects is N19.4 billion.
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Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ilorin, the governor highlighted the strategic importance of the roads in improving the lives of rural dwellers.
“This flag-off for the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads spanning 209.77km and connecting 16 local government areas is the fruit of huge investment, strategic planning, our commitment to rural-urban development and food security, and our drive for rapid socioeconomic growth and sustainable job opportunities,” AbdulRazaq stated.
The ceremony attracted dignitaries including Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi Saliu; Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), and Sadiq Umar (Kwara North); and House of Representatives member, Mukhtar Shagaya. Royal fathers also graced the event, represented by the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
Commending the governor’s efforts, Senator Ashiru, who spoke on behalf of Kwara’s National Assembly members, expressed pride in AbdulRazaq’s achievements. “We’re proud of your strides,” he said, emphasizing that previous administrations had failed to access RAAMP due to their inability to fulfill the required obligations.
In addition to the roads, Governor AbdulRazaq announced plans to establish three agro-logistics centers in the state’s senatorial districts and more rural roads to extend development to other local government areas.
