Osun Approves N255m For Rural Roads

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the release of N255 million to execute the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) to assist farmers in transporting farm produce to urban centres.

Speaking through his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo-Laoye Tomori, Aregbesola stated that the task of rural development is one of the major cardinal agenda of his administration, adding that all efforts must be made to achieve this.

The governor commended RAMP for completing the 12-kilometre road leading to Pataara farm settlement using the state government parallel fund, adding that he was happy about the efforts of the Development Partners for approving the state’ participation in FADAMA III project.

He said, “Let me say without any equivocation that the state government is elated about the efforts of the Development Partners for approving our participation in FADAMA III project. The performance of the project is worthwhile as you could see from the field visit to Akinleye, one stop shop at Adana, Fadama market at Ologunebi, the road linking Iwo-Patara farm settlement, Patara, Agoro, Ikonifin ,Ajagose, Asa and Gbojosi.”

Highlighting the importance of rural development through road network, the governor explained that the state government views RAMP as a fulcrum upon which the government could achieve one of its six-point agenda.

“To this end, RAMP has been given the onerous task of road improvement under Osun State Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O-REAP). The objective of this programme is to make Osun State the food basket of the country and this could only be achieved through rural accessibility which Rural Access and Mobility Project represents. It is not an overstatement to state that presently RAMP is one of the World Bank assisted projects that is in the good books of the state government,” he submitted.

Aregbesola restated the commitment of the government to collaborate with Development Partners for the development of rural areas, assuring that no efforts would be spared to achieve the best.

Her words: “Let me add that the importance of the project to the state is paramount in the mind of the state governor as demonstrated in the approval for the release of N250 million which is more than all the previous funds put together.”
By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan