The need establish an institutional sector for Rural roads has been stressed.
The world Bank consultant on rural road sector reform, Mr. MAYSAN ABEDIN made the remarks in lokoja while on a sensitization to stakeholders.
Mr. Maysan Abedin noted that with the various interventions in the past on rural roads, the roads soon goes into bad shape due to lack of sustainable maintenance mechanism adding that the covenant entered into by the World Bank and RAAMP participating states was to see that a rural road agency and a state road fund are set up for the purpose of maintaining the roads to be constructed by RAAMP.
Mr. Maysan said as an Advisor, the aim of his visit was to interact and collate basic information from the relevant stakeholders.
He said a workshop would be organized to further enhance the discussions on the establishment of the Rural road agency and a state road fund with bills to be forwarded to the state Assemblies for legislative deliberations and passage.
Also speaking, the Southern region Engineer of RAAMP, Engr Alhassan Aliu hinted that RAAMP would intervene in over 2,000kms of Rural roads and improve on 6 Agro-logistic hubs in Kogi state adding that with the signing of the subsidiary loan agreement (SLA), it is binding on the participating states to set up the both agencies to effectively maintain, sustain the rural roads. Engr. Alhassan said the donor partners will not hesitate to sanction any erring state.
Earlier, the Kogi RAAMP Coordinator, Engr Sheidu Obansa assured the Consultant of the cooperation of the stakeholders to the success of his assignment in the state.
Highlights of the visit by the consultant was interface with stakeholders including Ministries of Rural Development, Finance, Budget and Economic planning, Works, Justice, KOGROMA, NURTW, RTEAN amongst others.