By Rahman Taofeeq,
Oyo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (OYO RAAMP) has been commended for its outstanding performance, placing it among the top-performing states participating in the programme.
The National Coordinator, RAAMP (NCR), Engr. Aminu Bodinga, gave the commendation on Tuesday during the ongoing 10th Implementation Support Mission of the World Bank and African Development Fund (ADF), held at the National Airforce Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
Engr. Bodinga urged the government to put in place necessary mechanisms for the commencement and effective implementation of the Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA) and the State Road Fund (SRF), stressing that these are vital for the sustainability and maintenance of rural road projects.
He also appreciated the Oyo State Government for assenting to the establishment of RARA and SRF, describing it as a clear indication of the State’s readiness to participate in the RAAMP Scale-Up programme.
According to him, my visit to Oyo State revealed impressive project delivery, particularly the 36.4-kilometre Alako–Idiya–Batake owa–Ijaye road, constructed using single coat surface dressing, which he noted stands out in quality when compared to similar projects in other states.
He further noted that although Oyo State’s RAAMP initially faced challenges, the state has made remarkable progress and is now performing excellently under the supervision of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Speaking with journalists immediately after the state’s presentation, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye stated that the recognition reflects the state government’s commitment, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde, to transparency, adherence to global best practices, and effective project implementation.
He noted that the commendation serves as encouragement for the State to sustain its performance and continue delivering impactful rural infrastructure that supports agricultural development and economic growth.
Presenting the state’s performance, the Coordinating Head and Infrastructure Engineer, Oyo RAAMP, Engr. Adegboyega Obe, disclosed that out of the 67.95km of roads awarded under backlog maintenance contracts, 55.9km have been completed, added that Cross Drainage Structures (CDS) have been upgraded under backlog maintenance to 142 metres of CDS, while 20.04km of rural roads with surface dressing have also been completed.
He further noted that the physical improvement of Agro-Logistics Centres in three markets—Aare Alasa Market (Ona-Ara Local Government), Oja-Agbe Market (Iseyin Local Government), and Oja-Oba Market (Ibarapa Central Local Government, Igbo-Ora)—is nearing completion.
Engr. Obe however commended Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye for his leadership and commitment to ensuring that all projects meet the standards outlined in the Project Implementation Manual (PIM).
He, however, assured that the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) would continue to work diligently to ensure that Oyo State maintains its leading position among participating states.
Dignitaries at the event included the World Bank Task Team Lead, Mr. Rakesh Tripathi; the African Development Fund (ADF) representative; the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; as well as representatives from the 19 participating RAAMP states, among others.