Over 4.6 billion naira has been expended in counterparts funding by the Kwara state government for the construction of 209.77 Kilometres rural roads across the 16 local governments area of the state.
The Kwara state Coordinator of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), Dr Isaac Kolo stated this while featuring at the 47th Kwara NUJ Media engagement Themed “Ending Rural/Urban Migration Through Quality Road Infrastructure” held in Ilorin.
He said about 66.5 kilometers of the rural roads would be constructed in phase one to cover Asa, Ilorin West , Ilorin East ,Oyun and Edu local government areas of the state
Dr. Kolo also said 39.6 kilometers of the roads would be constructed in Baruten along the border of Benin Republic among others.
He explained that an agro-logistic has been put in place to upgrade market infrastructures across the three senatorial districts to international standard.
The RAAMP Coordinator noted that the construction of Rural roads already awarded are expected to end next year.
He said the opening of the rural areas through the construction of road network would reduce the challenges of Rural Urban Migration.
Dr. Kolo said the initiative would also provide the opportunity to reduce crime in the state.
He said road network are constructed in a way to link the rural dwellers to a market very close to them to sell their farm produce.
Dr.Kolo appealed to the residents of the state to take ownership of the road infrastructures and report any problem to the government for proper attention.
In his address ,the Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ),Kwara state Council, Comrade Ahmed Abdullateef said media practitioners have the responsibility of keeping the public informed on the programme and policies of government and make them accountable.
Abdullateef said the theme of the media parliament is timely owing to the issues of road dilapidation in the country.
He said the interaction with enable members of the public assess the work of the agency and it’s impact to human development.
