Osun Ranked Best Performing State In The World Bank’s RAMP Project Implementation

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The federal government of Nigeria has ranked Osun State as the best performing state among the participating states in the World Bank Rural Access and Mobility Project 2(RAMP 2) in the country.

The National Coordinator for RAMP project, Engr Aminu Muhammad Bodinga made this known in his opening remarks at the one-day workshop on Dissemination and Adoption of Low Volume Roads Manuals, held at Centre for Black Culture and Understanding, Abere.

Bodinga who was represented by Mrs Salamatu Faith Jibaniya said with the level of implementation of the project in the state, Osun was in a very good position for others to emulate.

According to him , the maintenance mechanism put in place for the RAMP project by the state was sustainable and urged other states to adopt same.

Bodinga, in his submission said the way and pace in which Osun was going with the commitment and proper implementation of the project, the state deserve commendations.

He added that, in pursuance to the present administration policies on improving the living standard of the people of the and transformation of the rural communities , indeed Osun State Government has taken a holistic approach in improving access roads with a view to enhancing the socio-economic activities of the people and for the greater number of our population that comes from the rural areas to contribute their quota to the national Development.

He added that, Osun had already
completed rehabilitation of about 687 rural roads and 26 numbers of River-crossings as well as engaged about 664 individuals on community based road maintainance scheme which according to him is a huge investment that cannot be there left to drain-down without putting in place adequate maintenance management structures for sustanable development

“As we all aware , access to rural markets is to boost agricultural productivity which is the hen that lays the golden egg at the heart of sustainable development economic growth and prosperity.

“Let me make bold to say that Osun State is one of the best performing state in RAMP 2 and is amongst the early states to conduct workshop to disseminate the rural roads manuals which will be used as guide for engineers and other Stakeholders in designing and maintaining rural roads in Nigeria particularly in Osun State.

He noted that , Osun RAMP 2 has brought succor to the teeming population in the rural areas across the states with the low volume engineered roads to alleviate the transportation burdens of this segment of the society.

Describing Osun RAMP across the state as the proverbial golden fish that has no hidden place, the National Coordinator for RAMP 2 project said the transformation of rural landscape dotted by RAMP is what is obvious.

Declaring the workshop open, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who was represented by his deputy chief of staff, Honourable Abdulahi Binuyo , assured that the state would strive to complement on its good performance on RAMP project especially in the area of maintenance.

Oyetola who commended the organisers for putting the Programme together said the workshop is important because it considers the best ways possible for the execution of Low Volume Roads in the state.

“I note very impressively , that this is the fourth training you are having within the last six weeks. This is commendable, as it demonstrates your recognition and prioritisation of capacity-building as a tool for enhanced service delivery.

“As you all know, the Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP 2) occupies a special place in our Administration’s Development Agenda, owing to its critical roles as an enabler of infrastructural development in our rural areas

Therefore, we are fully committed to supporting you to fulfill your mandates and to sustain the tradition of excellence you have, deservedly, been noted for you by our Development partners”. He said.