Yobe Eyes N1.7 Trillion Boost as World Bank-Backed RAAMP Targets 6,000 Rural Roads
By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu
The World Bank-supported Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) is seeking a massive N1.7 trillion to rehabilitate and maintain approximately 6,000 rural roads across Yobe State.
This ambitious funding request was disclosed by RAAMP’s Roads Reform Consultant, Maysom Abedin, during a high-level stakeholders’ consultative workshop held in Damaturu on Tuesday. According to Abedin, the initiative is part of a broader push to transform the state’s rural infrastructure and improve farmers’ access to markets in all 17 local government areas.
“The workshop is designed not only to discuss critical reforms in the road sector but also to create a space for interactive dialogue among stakeholders,” Abedin explained. “Our goal is to develop data-driven solutions that directly address the long-standing challenges in Yobe’s rural road network.”
Representing the National Project Coordinator, Engr. Muhammed Musa Aji emphasised the importance of inclusive participation, stating that stakeholder engagement signals a strong collective commitment to sustainable rural development.
The project also includes far-reaching institutional reforms aimed at creating efficient structures to manage the rural road network. According to Yobe State’s RAAMP Project Coordinator, Musa Sule Damagum, two new agencies will be established: the Rural Access Roads Authority (RARA) to oversee project execution and the State Road Fund (SRF) to raise funds for ongoing construction and maintenance.
“These institutions will serve as the backbone for ensuring that farmers can move their goods to markets efficiently, thereby boosting agricultural productivity and stimulating economic growth across the state,” Damagum added.
The RAAMP initiative represents one of the largest rural infrastructure drives in Yobe’s history and is expected to significantly enhance mobility, market access, and livelihoods once implemented.
