World Bank partners FG, Abia on rural road project

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The project known as Rural Access and Mobility Project, (RAMP) is a partnership with the World Bank, federal and State Government through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).

In a renewed effort to ensure easy access to rural communities, a tripartite community-driven initiative has commenced in Abia State that will deliver over 900 kilometres of rural roads.

The project known as Rural Access and Mobility Project, (RAMP) is a partnership with the World Bank, federal and State Government through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).

The RAMP National Coordinator, Mr.  Ubandoma Ularamu made this known at a stakeholders workshop titled, “The Prioritization of Intervention of Areas and Rural Road Links in Abia State “ held in Umuahia.

He stressed that 500 kilometres of the targeted roads have been approved for construction with drainages and bridges at the cost of N20 billion.Ubandoma said: “The project is aimed at giving access to the rural areas in the state to facilitate their means of livelihoods, eradicate poverty, food production, and check rural-urban migration among others”.         

He explained that the project which is being coordinated by John-Babington Chibunna, an engineer was intended for local councils covered by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which include; Aba North and Aba South,  Umuahia North and Umuahia South, Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Osisioma.

The State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu represented by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, said his administration has shifted emphasis from urban infrastructure development to those of the rural communities to speed up developmental activities at the local levels.

He stated that the state during the last RAMP phase intervention benefited about $57million from World Bank to tackle erosion, flooding and build drainages. “This has been improved community interconnectivity and improvement in the living standard of the people,” he said.

The benefitting communities, he said, were chosen on the basis of their needs viability, interest and commitment to ensuring the timely execution of the projects designated for the people.

Representative of the consultants to RAMP, Bidemi Bello, assured that the project would be fully actualized to the benefit of the communities and the country at large.