The World Bank has approved $500 million in concessional financing for the Rural Access Agricultural Marketing Project-Scale Up (RAAMP-SU) in Nigeria. The Government of Nigeria will contribute an additional $100 million towards the project. This initiative aims to improve sustainability in the rural road sector by supporting states in establishing and operationalizing State Road Funds (SRF) and State Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA). It also focuses on equipping states and the Ministry of Agriculture to foster a culture of maintenance and long-term infrastructure planning. Furthermore, the program provides financing to construct and maintain high-quality climate-resilient roads.
Currently, 80% of Nigeria's road network is reported to be in poor condition. This inadequate infrastructure hinders development, exacerbated by insufficient funding and climate change impacts such as high temperatures and increased rainfall that damage roads. Addressing these issues through road infrastructure improvements will reinforce economic and social inclusion by increasing access to agricultural markets, social services, and jobs nationwide.
The project aims to rehabilitate, upgrade, and maintain 6,500 km of rural roads through newly created state institutions. It will provide technical implementation support and promote social inclusion and gender equality, benefiting around 4 million rural residents. Key beneficiaries include farmers, transport operators, market participants, and rural communities who rely on these roads for daily activities. The program will also enhance women's access to healthcare and labor market participation. It ultimately aims to promote economic transformation and inclusive growth, enhance the climate resilience of critical road infrastructure, and strengthen institutional capacity to manage climate risks.
“Rural roads play a critical role in connecting agricultural land to market infrastructure, thereby helping to improve food security," said Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria. "Rural road interventions like the RAAMP-SU will enable socioeconomic development for isolated areas and act as a catalyst for creation of growth centers.” He added that “the project will support improved access to market—leading to increased volume of traded agricultural products, farm gate prices and household income, and reduce harvest losses. We are pleased to support this program as it has the potential to create jobs and improve the income of millions of Nigerians.”
The World Bank has been supporting Nigeria's rural road agenda (RAAMP) since 2007. This project is part of a larger program at the Ministry of Agriculture with various interventions involving rural roads, agricultural marketing, construction and marketing of agro-logistical centers, among other agricultural initiatives.