Rural development got a boost in Niger State on Tuesday as Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello flagged off the rehabilitation and construction of 55.33-kilometre rural road project in Kutigi, Lavun Local Government Area of the state.

The project is part of the 135-kilometre road construction/rehabilitation in Niger South Senatorial District under the second phase of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II).

Over 400 kilometres rural road are captured for construction under second phase of the World Bank assisted rural development initiative.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the project the Kutigi-Dasun-Tashan Hajiya Road, Governor Sani-Bello reaffirmed his administration’s commitment at ensuring rural development across the state so as to allow people at the grassroots level have a sense of belonging by contributing to the development of their socio-economic lives.

The Governor expressed optimism that the project will go a long way to improve agricultural activities in the benefiting communities and the state at large, adding that the road will also help in promoting the socio-economic status of the rural dwellers.

According to the governor, “Our administration is committed to infrastructural development of our rural areas in order to improve economic and social activities of the rural farmers in the state.

“Our target is to improve the capacity of our farmers to purchase inputs and sell products competitively and by so doing, we will be able to facilitate and promote economic growth thereby providing all-year-round access to basic services and facilities across the state.”

He also explained that RAMP project would provide access to infrastructural facilities to farmers in order to boost agricultural activities, reduce difficulties of transporting their products to local and regional markets and to avoid waste of agricultural products.

The Governor further reiterated that “the government will not relent in her efforts at ensuring that standard of living in the rural areas are not only improved but families also lifted above the poverty line.”

He maintained that his administration is “poised to make sure rural farmers get the best in terms of their farming activities to boost their production and increase their yield.

Governor Sani-Bello who disclosed that a total of 176-kilometre rural roads were rehabilitated in the first phase of the project said that the state government is also working towards surfacing the roads to avoid traffic buildup and to increase their durability.”

He then called on rural dwellers to continue to support government policies, initiatives and programs and assured them of the state government continuous payment of counterpart contributions for all donor-funded projects in the state.

Earlier, the National Coordinator, RAMP, Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu, disclosed that under the two phases of the project, 579-kilometre of roads and 30 numbers river crossing bridges are being constructed or rehabilitated all over the state.

The national coordinator applauded Governor Sani Bello for honouring his commitment counterpart contribution amidst other competing projects.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alh. Haruna Nuhu Duku, said that the construction of Kutigi-Dasun-Tasha Hajiya is part of the 403-kilometre feeder roads to be constructed across the state, explaining that the state government keyed into the RAMP II project in its determination to turn around the fortunes of the rural dwellers.

Commending the Gov. Sani-Bello led administration commitment to even distribution of infrastructural facilities, Hon. Isa Mohammed Kutigi, legislator representing Lavun state constituency in the State Assembly, described state government policy of opening up of rural areas through road construction as antidote for rural development.

He urged the state government to sustain the policy for even development of the state.

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