By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
In line with Governor Bala Mohammed’s policy drive on opening up rural communities with a view to achieving economic prosperity and bring about even development, Bauchi State Government on Monday 18th September, 2023 flagged off rural road construction project that is estimated to cost 2.4 Billion Naira.
The 19 kilometer road project is to be implemented under the World Bank Assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing (RAAM) Project.
Inaugurating the projects at Liman Katagum Community of Bauchi Local Government Area, Governor Bala Mohammed said when completed the projects would open up agrarian communities of Liman Katagum, Luda, Lekka and Gudum.
According to the Governor, small towns and villages that will benefit from the rural road construction include Unguwar Malam, Yola, Hammadada,Yar Borno, Unguwar Baraya and Falla.
To facilitate successful take off and timely completion, Governor Bala Mohammed said the State Government has paid the counterpart fund of one point nine billion naira which would also cover similar projects in other parts of the state.
Bala Mohammed stressed that the decision to key into the intervention programme was to address infrastructural gap in the rural areas, enhance food production and provide access to markets and basic amenities.
He therefore warned the contractors to adhere to the project specification adding that the state project office would embark on monitoring and evaluation to ensure quality work is delivered.
The National Project Coordinator Engr. Aminu Muhammad Bodinga said Bauchi is taking the lead among the nineteen benefiting states by fulfilling all the requirements to secure the intervention in good time.
In his address, the state commissioner Ministry of Special Duties and Rural Development Faruq Mustapha said under the RAAM Project, over one thousand kilometers road would be constructed across the state in an effort to reduce the number of rural roads that are in deplorable condition.
The project is to be completed in eighteen months time.