RAAMP’s Stakeholders Review Meeting Underscores Progress, Scale-Up Readiness, and the Crucial Role of Infrastructure in Food Systems
Stakeholders from across Nigeria gathered Monday, in Lagos for the Stakeholders Engagement and Project Progress Review Meeting of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank–supported initiative designed to improve rural connectivity, enhance agricultural value chains, and promote institutional reform.
In his opening remarks at the Meeting held in Ikeja, Lagos State, Engr. Aminu Bodinga Mohammed emphasized that the future of RAAMP lies in sustainability and national ownership. “For the first time, under our leadership, we are positioning RAAMP to become a World Bank–financed project that will outlive donor support,” he said.
In a statement by the Project’s Head, Development Communication Unit, Mrs. Vivian Amadi, Engr. Mohammed noted the critical role of State Road Agencies (SRAs) in institutionalizing road infrastructure development and maintenance.
He highlighted a new collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), which he said will not only support community-based road maintenance but also enhance rural mobility, turning roads into tools for both employment generation and economic inclusion.
“Roads are not just government assets—they are community lifelines,” he stressed. “The responsibility to protect and maintain them lies with all of us.”
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, in a welcome address, emphasized the project’s alignment with the State’s strategic food infrastructure agenda.
“Just last week, we launched the Produce for Lagos program and a ₦500 billion guaranteed take-off fund to strengthen linkages between producers, processors, and consumers,” she noted.
According to her, “RAAMP is not just a road project—it is the missing link that connects rural farmers to our expanding network of food logistics hubs.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Audu, she cited the ongoing construction of the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe—set to be the largest in sub-Saharan Africa—as a testament to the State’s commitment to food security. “But no hub or storage facility can function without reliable access. RAMP becomes more than just infrastructure—it becomes a lifeline for the food economy,” she said.
Ms. Olusanya explained that poor road networks directly lead to higher food prices, post-harvest losses, and economic strain on produce.
“Reiterating RAAMP’s purpose to tackle these challenges, she reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to fulfilling all institutional and legal requirements for effective implementation.
World Bank Task Team Leader, Mr. Rakeesh Tripathi praised participating states for the passage of over 35 state-level laws, including the creation of Rural Road Agencies (RARA) and State Road Funds (SRF). “I don’t recall any other project with this level of legislative accomplishment,” he said.
Tripathi reminded participants that physical results remain the key metric of success, noting that the projects can only become beneficial when roads are completed and in use by the people. He therefore called for a renewed focus on construction progress and service delivery.
While giving an update on the forthcoming RAAMP scale-up, expected to be launched in October 2025, he highlighted that it would introduce a historic 10% federal government co-financing commitment—alongside 10% from states and 80% from the World Bank.
“Scale-up is not an extension of RAAMP—it is a new project with strict eligibility criteria,” he clarified. “States must operationalize their agencies, allocate budgets, and demonstrate readiness.”
The Task Team Leader added that this would be his final year in Nigeria: “You’ve put up with me for four years—just one more to go. Let’s make it count.” he said
The Lagos meeting underscored that RAAMP is not merely about road construction—it is a strategic tool for economic growth, food security, and rural transformation. From federal coordination to state-level implementation, the project’s success will depend on collaboration, institutional capacity, and a shared commitment to results.
Other participants at the meeting which featured strong messages of support, strategic vision, and renewed commitment from key actors, included the World Bank team, ILO, Honourable Commissioners of participating states, Directors-General of Rural Access Road Agencies (RARA) and State Road Funds (SRF), Permanent Secretaries, and Project Coordinators.
With a renewed sense of urgency and unified vision, stakeholders now look ahead to the October scale-up launch and the continued push to connect Nigeria’s farms, markets, and people—one road at a time.
