Bayelsa To Establish Rural Road Agency, Fund

Director of Development Transport Solution Limited and Transport Consultant to the World Bank, Maysam Abadin, has expressed readiness for the establishment of a Rural Road Maintenance Agency and State Road Fund in Bayelsa State.

Abadin made this known yesterday during an online Sector Reform Consultation Workshop with Bayelsa and Jigawa states’ stakeholders, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Onopa in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

He stated that the agency when established should be independent from the state government for it to be effective and sustainable.

According to him, the agency will ensure that rural roads remain plyable to enhance the economy of the states and urged the states to establish a legal framework for the establishment of the Rural Road Mantainance Agency and State Road Fund.

The setting up of the agency is a precondition for the commencement of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – RAAMP.

In his closing remarks, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and chairman of Bayelsa RAAMP State Project Management Committee, Dr Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer, noted that RAAMP has a huge potential for linking many rural roads and urged all stakeholders to work towards the establishment of the road agency.

The online workshop which was held for stakeholders had in attendance the commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Beke Sese, his Ministry of Community Development counterpart, Hon Belemote Watson, the State Project Coordinator of RAAMP, Dr Paul Ebienfa, members of the State Project Implementation Unit- SPIU, members of the State Project Management Committee -SPMC and other stakeholders.