The Rural Access and Mobility Project, a World Bank-funded initiative, is set to construct 534 kilometers of rural roads across Benue State to enhance the transportation of agricultural produce. Mr. Stephen Numbeve, the State Project Coordinator, provided these details in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Numbeve explained that the project would prioritize the construction of roads that connect farms to markets, thereby making it easier for farmers to transport their produce. He also revealed plans to build warehouses across the state for the secure storage of both fresh and dry agricultural products.
He further clarified that the roads would span all local governments in the state, with no specific sequence for construction. These roads are categorized as trunk C or D roads, which are designed to provide direct access for farmers to markets, unlike trunk A or B roads, which are federal and state highways, respectively.
The project has made significant progress, including the completion of engineering road designs, surveys, and geophysical studies. However, Numbeve acknowledged a slight delay due to the non-payment of counterpart funding by the previous administration. While other states had already made their payments, Benue’s new administration has since addressed the issue, allowing progress to resume.
Numbeve also mentioned the challenges of accessing funds from both the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, noting that such international funding requires meeting certain statutory prerequisites, including the payment of counterpart funds. Once the funds are available, the focus will be on building the roads and markets to support agricultural growth in the region.
Additionally, Numbeve shared that there were initial issues with office accommodation when he assumed office, as the previous setup did not meet the standards required by the International Technological Association, necessitating a dedicated office space to avoid political interference.
