The Rural Access and Mobility Project, funded by the World Bank, aims to construct 534 kilometers of rural roads throughout Benue to enhance the transportation of agricultural products. Mr. Stephen Numbeve, the State Project Coordinator, shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Numbeve stated that the project will also include the construction of warehouses across the state for agricultural storage. “We have prioritized developing engineering road designs for the 534 kilometers of roads planned. Surveys, geophysical studies, and final designs have been completed,” he noted.
“With these preparations finalized, we are ready to proceed as soon as funding is available. These roads will link farms to markets, allowing farmers to transport their goods more easily.”
“In addition to the roads, we intend to build warehouses where farmers can securely store fresh or dried produce. This infrastructure will significantly enhance agricultural productivity and market access.”
“The roads will cover all local governments in the state, though there is no specific allocation or sequence for the 534 kilometers. These roads are classified as trunk C or D, designed to provide access for farmers rather than being federal or state roads.”
Numbeve explained that the slight delay in starting the project was due to the previous administration’s failure to pay the required counterpart fund. “Other states have fulfilled their obligations and moved forward, but since the new administration took over, we have addressed these issues.”
“We are now in the process of accessing funds from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, which will be used for building roads and markets. While we haven’t accessed any funds yet, progress is being made.”
“Accessing these funds can be challenging, as international funding comes with specific statutory requirements. These funds are not government resources, and certain prerequisites must be met, such as mandatory counterpart funding, which must be paid to access the funds.”
