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World Bank sets up rural road devt project in Imo

By From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
11 May 2010   |   2:21 pm
THE World Bank, in conjunction with the Imo State government, has set up a new rural development project, tagged "Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP)".The project is expected to improve access to the rural communities in the state, through new construction and rehabilitation of roads.The national coordinator of the project, Lambert Chukwuemeka Nwaeze, an engineer,…
THE World Bank, in conjunction with the Imo State government, has set up a new rural development project, tagged “Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP)”.

The project is expected to improve access to the rural communities in the state, through new construction and rehabilitation of roads.

The national coordinator of the project, Lambert Chukwuemeka Nwaeze, an engineer, disclosed this after a closed door meeting with key officials of the project and the ministry in Owerri at the weekend.

RAMP is World Bank assisted project essentially to be put place to “institutionalise a sustainable way for both the construction and maintenance of rural roads in the country”

Though he could not disclose cost for the take off of the project, he said the Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim, has approved the release of counter part fund of N150 million, adding that the interaction with the stakeholders on the modalities of securing office, recruiting workers, purchasing equipment and other logistics, had been put in place.

Nwaeze noted that Imo State was chosen among the pilot areas because of its government’s policy in putting in place Imo Rural Roads Maintenance Agency (IROMA) which would “compliment and sustain” the RAMP project.

“Imo is a good playing ground for the project considering the presence of Imo Rural Roads Maintenance Agency in the state which RAMP is meant to compliment and sustain,” he said.

The national coordinator, added that the meeting urged the Federal Government, World Bank and the French Development Agency to facilitate preparation and implementation of the project in the state.

The Imo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kezie Ogaziechi, a lawyer, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Okenze Ben-Glad Okonkwo, disclosed that the state government, through the ministry, was prepared to play its part required for the successful take-off of the project.

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