Abdulraman Abdulrasaq: Putting Kwara first through RAAMP



By Ishola Gbenga anipr 

On Monday, 21st October 2024 turned out to be a day when another history was created in Kwara as the State Governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq flagged-off the construction, rehabilitation, and upgrade of rural roads totaling 209.77km, doubling down on his administration’s drive to connect the state’s agrarian hinterlands to the markets in the urban areas and strengthen food security.

The recent 209.77km projects of rural roads in Kwara being prosecuted under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), an initiative for which the administration of Mallam Abdulraman Abdulrasaq has committed at least N4bn counterpart funds in the last five years is no doubt a plus for the government of Kwara State. 

RAAMP is jointly funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency, with the state government providing counterpart funds. Governor AbdulRazaq said the investments have yielded the 209.77km costed at N19,404,220,675.55 for the benefits of the people. The road projects include Alapa-Hoko (0.7km); Madi-Peke (17.5km); Mandala-Yowere-Agbonna (12.485 km); Gerewu-Eiyekorin- Okoolowo Expressway (3.07km); Panada-Oloro ((5.43km); Inaja-Alaro-Inaja Maliki (6.22km); Ijagbo-Aperun-Adeleke- Igbawere (6.85km); Kpandarako-Ginda- Kusomunu- Kachitako- Tsakpata Lealea- Gulufu Bacita (22.89km); and Lafiagi- Effagi - Putata road (9.53km).

Others are Oko Olowo- SokotoTafatafa -Elere-Owode Oja- Baba Kudu- Akopari- Otte Oja road (23.23km); Odo Ode- Soliu-Arogun-Ikotun-Oke Amin-Rondo- Offa road (22.08km); Babanla-Budo Idowu-Alasoro-Owode- Shagbe (10.53km); Kpada-Gakpan (9.58km); and Yakiru-Tabiru-Kenu rural road (59.69km). 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.

According Governor, AbdulRazaq, RAAMP project aligns with the government’s commitment to revolutionize rural infrastructure for agricultural development in the state in which the Governor commended the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD) for providing the fund and the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for proper coordination of RAAMP activities in Nigeria.

AbdulRazaq, who announced that the state government will soon award contracts for the construction of three Agro-logistics Centres, one in each senatorial district (Ajase-Ipo, Alapa and Kaiama) and more rural roads that will spread to other LGAs, also commended the various contractors and consultants engaged to manage the roads. 

Meanwhile, implementation of the 209.77 rural roads is being handled by both contractors and consultants engaged by Kwara RAAMP to carry out the assignment as we have NBHH and 
BOLCON ASSOCIATES managing Alapa-Hoko while Madi-Peeke, is handled by the same NBHH and BOLCON ASSOCIATES. Mondala-Yowere-Agbonna, is managed by FIK CONTRACTING & ENGR LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, for which Gerewu-Eiyenkorin -Okolpwo Express is being handled by HERIPROM ENGINEERING LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS. 

Also Panada-Oloro, is taken up by HERIPROM ENGINEERING LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, while Inanja-Alaro-Inaja Maliki is being managed by TUNDIS NIG LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS. Meanwhile, Ijagbo-Aperun-Adeleke-Igbawere is under the supervision of TUNDIS NIG LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, while Kpandarako-Ginda-Kusomunu-Kachitaka- Tsakpata Lealea-Gulufu–Bacita is managed by RAFALI NIG LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, for which Lafiagi-Effagi-Putata roads is constructed by RAFALI NIG LTD and 
ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, then Okolowo Express-Sokoto-Tafatafa-Elere-Owode Oja-Baba Kudu-Akopari-Otte Oja roads is undertaken by RAFALI NIG LTD and MC GEORGE CONSULTING JV OBA.

Odo Ode–Solu–Arogun-Ikotun-Oke Amin-Rondo-Offa road is handled by TUNDIS NIG LTD and MC GEORGE CONSULTING JV OBA, while Babanla-Budo Idowu-Alasoro-Owode-Shagbe is being monitored by SWALLEYS NIG LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, then Kpada-Gakpan is being taken up by JAFAT HIGHLAND GOLD LTD and ETTE ARO & PARTNERS and finally, Yakiru-Tabiru-Kenu rural road of 59.69km is by HALEEKEM NIG LTD and 
ETTE ARO & PARTNERS, making a total of 209.77
km of rural roads accross the state.

The Governor therefore, urged the contractors and consultants to deliver these projects within stipulated time and design specifications, and urged the host communities to support the initiative. According to His Excellency, for those roads to stand the test of time through quality maintenance, the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bills have been signed into law by the Governor who also approved the constitution of the Boards of the Agency. 

At the groundbreaking occasion, the RAAMP State Project Coordinator, Engr Isaac Kolo, who specifically thanked Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq for focus and results driven vision, said the government’s investments in rural road infrastructure and agro-logistics facilities showed that the Governor is visionary, goal-oriented and passionate about the people's well-being.

It would be recalled that on assumption of office in 2019, the administration of Mallam Abdulraman Abdulrasaq immediately paid the first tranche of the counterpart fund. Between 2019 and now, the government has paid the sum of Four Billion, Twenty-Six Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Naira (N4,026,891,000) as a counterpart fund, making Kwara RAAMP a leading project among other RAAMP participating states in the country. 

The ceremony, which attracted national and state lawmakers, members of judiciary, cabinet members, and royalties has in attendance the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi Saliu; Senators Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central); Lola Ashiru (South); and Sadiq Umar (North); House of Representatives member Mukhtar Shagaya; Grand Kadi Kwara State Shari'ah Court of Appeal Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; cabinet members; local government chairpersons; State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi and other leaders of the party; National Coordinator for RAAMP Engr Aminu Muhammed represented by Hajia Khadijat Isiaq; State Coordinator for RAMMP Engr Isaac Kolo Kusomunu; and President Ilorin Emirate Descendants' Progressive Union IEDPU Alhaji Abdulmumeen Abdulmalik; among others.

Royal fathers at the event were the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman State Traditional Council Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, represented by Etsu Patigi Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bolugi; Etsu Tsaragi Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Ndakpoto; Emir of Lafiagi Alhaji Muhammed Kawu; Olupako of Share Oba Olawale Haruna; among others.

Ishola Gbenga is the Kwara RAAMP Development Communication Officer (DCO)
Isholagbenga@yahoo.com
21st October 2024

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