The Federal Government has obtained $850 million to expand the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), aiming to strengthen rural infrastructure, improve market access, and enhance food security nationwide. Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security Senator Sabi Abdullahi announced this during the 10th RAAMP Implementation Support Mission in Abuja, noting that the funding comprises $600 million for the project's scale-up and $250 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
Abdullahi explained that the new financing will consolidate ongoing sector reforms, widen the coverage of rural roads, and ensure long-term sustainability through stronger institutional frameworks. The scale-up programme (RAAMP-SU) will build on existing gains, including the establishment of Rural Access Roads Agencies (RARA) and State Road Funds (SRF), which are designed for sustainable maintenance and financing of rural roads.
The minister disclosed that the project has already achieved significant milestones, with approximately 1,500 kilometres of rural roads completed, while efforts are underway to deliver an additional 2,500 kilometres by December 2026. These interventions have improved mobility, enhanced market access, and connected rural communities to essential services, directly benefiting millions of Nigerians.
Regarding sustainability, Abdullahi noted that the project promotes community-based maintenance systems in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO), aimed at strengthening local capacity and ensuring long-term upkeep of infrastructure. He commended development partners including the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), IsDB, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for their continued support, describing their contributions as critical to RAAMP's success and expansion. He also urged state governments to sustain their commitment through timely counterpart funding, effective implementation, and continued support for institutional reforms.
The World Bank Task Team Lead, Rakesh Tripathi, expressed optimism that RAAMP would become one of the first projects in Nigeria to be fully implemented and disbursed ahead of its closing date, which still has about 18 months to completion. Tripathi said the project team has taken up the challenge to fast-track implementation, targeting completion of all disbursements at least one year before the official closing date. He expressed confidence that all civil works would be finalised by December, allowing sufficient time to conclude outstanding processes and focus on the scale-up phase. The World Bank official noted that although the upcoming scale-up phase would be significant, it would be less challenging since implementation teams have already gained valuable experience from the current phase. He emphasised that timely completion would not only demonstrate efficiency but also strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s ability to execute large-scale infrastructure programmes.
Meanwhile, the Project Manager of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Sally Abdo Ibrahim, commended stakeholders for the significant progress recorded on the ongoing project, despite initial delays. RAAMP National Project Coordinator Engr Aminu Bodinga Mohammed disclosed that the project, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is funded by the World Bank and French Development Agency to the tune of $575 million. He explained that initially designed to reach 8.2 million people, the project has now impacted about 11 million Nigerians. RAAMP is also building 39 agrologistics centers equipped with storage facilities, market sheds, water, and electricity. Construction on the ALCs is about 40% complete, with full delivery expected by June or July. The 5-year programme runs until December 31, 2027, with plans already underway for RAAMP Scale-Up, which will open participation to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
