The Bayelsa State Government has said it will continue to improve road access for rural farmers and fishermen, ensure better connectivity to farms, fishing settlements, and markets under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The State Project Coordinator, Dr. Paul Ebienfa, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Yenagoa involving consultants from the World Bank, the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), and other relevant stakeholders.
He stated that the project is funded through a partnership involving the World Bank, the French Development Agency, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Bayelsa State Government. Its goal is to enhance agro-logistics and improve market access through the development, maintenance, and management of rural road networks for rural farmers and fishermen, while ensuring better connectivity to farms, fishing settlements, and markets.
Dr. Ebienfa explained that Bayelsa State must meet key conditions set by funding partners before receiving financial support. This includes establishing the Rural Access and Road Agency (RARA) and the State Road Fund (SRF), both of which are mandatory for all RAAMP states.
He further noted that while RAAMP is already operational in 19 states, Bayelsa is still in the formative stage and has yet to be declared effective. The project’s initial phase will cover selected roads and markets across the state’s eight Local Government Areas.
Also speaking, Dr. Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Chairman of RAAMP, revealed that Governor Senator Douye Diri has approved the design of 80 km of roads across the state.
“This is why Bayelsa remains a top contender among states set to benefit from the program this year,” he said.
“Once these roads are constructed, Bayelsa’s blue economy will be boosted, and the local economy will experience significant growth.”
In his remarks, Mr. Tarinyo Akono, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, emphasized the importance of forming RARA and SRF to ensure the sustainability of the RAAMP project.
Speaking to journalists, he stated: “The World Bank required Bayelsa to meet certain conditions, which we have fulfilled. However, they introduced a sustainability plan, which led to this stakeholders’ meeting aimed at establishing the SRF and RARA. These agencies will mobilize private sector funds to maintain rural roads and ensure long-term impact.”
However, the RAAMP initiative is expected to drive economic growth in rural communities, enhance transportation infrastructure, and strengthen agricultural value chains across Bayelsa State.