By Precious Oluwole

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has emphasised that his administration remians resolute in its commitment to the welfare of rural dwellers.

The Governor made this emphasis at the ground breaking ceremony for the 10.9 km construction of Idanre – Obajare road, Idanre on Thursday.

According to the Governor, from the inception of his administration, deliberate efforts have been made to emplace several life-changing programmes and projects geared towards improving the livelihood and living standard of our teeming farming population, which goes without saying that agriculture remains the mainstay of the state economy.

‘It is our resolve that the government must of necessity, do more in the rural areas of Ondo State and would address the economic gap across the State through the provision of basic infrastructure. I am glad that the road project which ground breaking ceremony you are witnessing today is not only fulfilling this aspiration but ensuring the continued actualization of the mandate of RAAMP which is construction of rural access roads”.

The Governor averred that the actualisation of this projects is as a result of the regular payment of the government counterpart funds for RAAMP in fulfilment of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

“It would be recalled that our State joined other states to participate in the implementation of the Project in March 2017 and was accepted by the Bank having fulfilled all the laid down selection criteria. The benefits inherent in this laudable project which afforded us the opportunity of enjoying donor funding are visible for all of us to see and celebrate today.

“One of the components of our REDEEMED Agenda is “Rural and Agricultural Development” which is strategically conceived to address the challenges prevalent in our rural communities. It is in this regard that our administration is fully committed to repositioning the rural communities and the rural dwellers to be a more result-oriented society through the provision of rural access and marketing of the farm produce from our rural areas through the proposed establishment of nine Agro-Logistics centres across the three senatorial districts of the State”.

The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of the grassroots and by extension, the people of Ondo State, assuring them that his administration shall continue to embark on more developmental projects for the benefit of the people in the State.

He emphasised the need for all stakeholders to take ownership of these projects, stressing that the contractors handling the construction of the rural roads must be closely supervised to ensure that the quality of the roads is not compromised under any guise.

“I seek your unwavering support as our administration continues to deliver the dividends of good governance to our people”, the Governor concluded.

Earlier in his address, the Administrative Secretary of the Directorate of Rural & Community Development and Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP, Mr. Wole Akinkwotu, reiterated the administration’s proactive stance in participating in RAAMP.

He cited Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment and the desire to reshape perceptions surrounding rural accessibility as driving factors behind the state’s involvement.

With a project outlay of $575 million and participation from 19 states, RAAMP stands as a beacon of hope for bolstering rural development and transforming agricultural markets across the nation.

Also speaking, the Director General, Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects ( RAAMP), Engr. Adeniyi Adelabu noted that without good rural roads, farm produce will not get to the market in good time and a lot get spoilt in the farm or along the roads, stressing that challenges of road network, storage of farm produce, marketing of surplus produce are all issues which affects sustainable farming.

He said “Ondo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing (RAAMP) of the Ondo State Government is a donor funded project with the objective of creating access and ensuring improvement of rural roads coupled with implementation of activities that will enhance Agro-Logistics covering post-harvest loss of farm produce”.

He must emphasize that Ondo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has been at the fore front of achieving this mandate of Mr. Governor on the agenda.

“Our government’s decision to be one of the participating states in RAAMP was borne out of the concerned attitude of Mr. Governor and the desire to change the negative narrative associated with getting access to the rural part of the state”.

In attendance were; The Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Tayo Oluwatuyi, Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, State Chairman, APC, Engr Ade Adetimehin, members of the State Executive Council, Traditional rulers.