Ogun State goverment partners World Bank, AfDB on 500km road projects

The Ogun State Government in collaboration with the World Bank, and Africa Development Bank has concluded arrangements to construct 500 km rural roads to enhance social -economic activities of the people in the hinterlands.

This is in addition to 500 rural roads the State Government had already earmarked for construction this year.

The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Obas’ complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads under the Ogun State Rural Access and Mobility Project, RAMP 3.

According to the governor, the roads will cut across all the 20 local government Areas and the newly created 37 local council development areas.

Speaking on the benefits of these projects, the Governor said it would enhance agricultural development, and help ease movement of agricultural produce, thereby enhancing the soci-eonomic status of the people

Amosun, who promised that the work will be done by local contractors in the affected areas, said this would empower local artisans and sub-contractors that will be engaged at that level.

Breaking down the areas to be handled by the World Bank, the consultant for RAMP, Dr. Emmanuel Adeyemo, said the roads were selected for meeting certain universal criteria set by the donor agencies.

According to him, the roads must link to either a local market, hospital or school, or the combination of the three. In addition, the roads must link to a state or federal road.

Thanking the State Government for cooperating with the World Bank, Adeyemo said the roads will be done in phases, assuring that the roads will be done to international specifications.

In his remarks, the special adviser to the governor on Rural Development, Wale Ogunyomade, assured that effective monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure quality job by contractors.

He further explained that the maintenance of the roads will be done in collaboration with the locals, who are the beneficiaries after handing over.

The stakeholders meeting which had in attendance,  Obas, local chiefs, leaders of community development associations, local government officials and NGOs deliberated on modalities to make the project a success.