The federal government has reiterated commitment to strengthening rural economies, improving market access, and advancing food security through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, said this on Monday at the 10th joint World Bank and French Development Agency implementation support mission of RAAMP in Abuja.

He said the mission comes at a critical time as the government, under President Bola Tinubu, advances the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on food security and rural development.

He said agricultural productivity must be backed by efficient market access, noting that improved connectivity is essential for translating production into prosperity nationwide.

“Connectivity is food security because without access to markets, production cannot translate into prosperity. That is the gap RAAMP is closing,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi said rural access road agencies and state road funds ensure rural infrastructure is delivered efficiently, sustainably managed, and properly financed for long-term impact.

He said about 1,500 kilometres of rural roads have been completed under the project, with efforts ongoing to deliver an additional 2,500 kilometres by December.

He added that states are at different implementation levels, but overall progress shows improved coordination, stronger delivery momentum, and expanding rural infrastructure coverage.

The minister said RAAMP has improved movement of people and goods, enhanced market access, and strengthened connectivity to essential services across participating rural communities.

He said over 11.5 million rural Nigerians have benefited directly from improved access under RAAMP, calling it ‘a key renewed hope achievement’.

He added that the initiative ensures rural communities are not left behind, linking them to opportunities, productivity, and inclusive economic growth nationwide.

Earlier, World Bank Task Team Leader Rakeesh Tripathi said reforms and project quality are critical to ensuring long-term sustainability and effectiveness of RAAMP interventions.

He said the project has about 18 months remaining for completion and urged sustained commitment to achieving its development objectives.

National Coordinator of RAAMP, Aminu Mohammed, said the project aims to improve rural access, reduce poverty, cut post-harvest losses, and enhance market connectivity.

He said the project also provides access to processing centres, hospitals, and social amenities, improving overall rural livelihoods across participating states.

He said 19 states are currently involved, with the project targeting about 8.2 million people in rural communities nationwide.

The director of the Federal Department of Development Partners Projects, Illuromi Adebola, said RAAMP is a federal government intervention supporting rural access and agricultural marketing.

She reaffirmed the department’s commitment to providing technical and administrative support to ensure effective coordination and successful project delivery.

She said stakeholders will continue collaboration to deepen coordination, improve performance, and ensure full realisation of project objectives.

 (NAN)