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<\/p>\nThe project known as Rural Access and Mobility\u00a0Project, (RAMP) is a partnership with the World Bank, federal and State Government through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nIn a renewed effort to ensure easy access to rural communities, a tripartite community-driven initiative has commenced in Abia State that will deliver over\u00a0900 kilometres of rural roads.<\/p>\n
The project known as Rural Access and Mobility\u00a0Project, (RAMP) is a partnership with the World Bank, federal and State Government through the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).<\/p>\n
The RAMP National Coordinator, Mr.\u00a0 Ubandoma Ularamu made this known at a stakeholders workshop titled, \u201cThe Prioritization of Intervention of Areas and Rural Road Links in Abia State \u201c held in Umuahia.<\/p>\n
He stressed that 500 kilometres of the targeted\u00a0roads have been approved for construction with drainages and bridges at the cost of N20 billion.Ubandoma said: \u201cThe project is aimed at giving access to the rural areas in the state to facilitate their means of livelihoods, eradicate poverty, food production, and check rural-urban migration among others\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/p>\n
He explained that the project which is being coordinated by John-Babington\u00a0Chibunna, an engineer was\u00a0intended for local councils covered by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which include; Aba North and Aba South,\u00a0 Umuahia North and Umuahia South, Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Osisioma.<\/p>\n
The State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu represented by the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Obinna Oriaku, said his administration has shifted emphasis from urban infrastructure development to those of the rural communities to speed up developmental activities at the local levels.<\/p>\n
He stated that the state during the last RAMP phase intervention benefited about $57million from World Bank to tackle erosion, flooding<\/a> and build drainages. \u201cThis has been improved community interconnectivity and improvement in the living standard of the people,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n The benefitting communities, he said, were chosen on the basis of their needs viability,\u00a0interest and commitment to ensuring the timely execution of the projects designated for the people.<\/p>\n Representative of the consultants to RAMP, Bidemi Bello, assured that the project would be fully actualized to the benefit of the communities and the country at large.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Guardian <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"