Stephen Numbeve, the Benue State Coordinator of the Benue Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), has secured 25 million euros for the construction of 53 rural roads across the state.
Speaking with newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday, Numbeve announced that the funding was secured from the European Investment Bank for the construction of 500 kilometers of rural roads in the state.
According to the agency coordinator, the engineering road designs for 300 kilometers of roads have been completed, while design work on the remaining 200 kilometers of roads will commence soon.
Numbeve stated that six states, including Benue, Edo, Anambra, Cross River, Taraba, and Borno, have successfully secured a total of 150 million euros from the European Investment Bank.
“As soon as I resumed about six months ago, I immediately went into action, and we have been able to secure funding from the European Investment Bank, along with six other states, including Benue, Edo, Anambra, Cross River, Taraba, and Borno states,” Numbeve said.
“Though disbursement has not yet been done, all the relevant signings and agreements have been completed. The Minister of Finance has signed with the European Investment Bank on our behalf, and we are hoping that, most likely and God willing, disbursements will be made this June.
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“The funds that the Federal Government has signed with the European Investment Bank amount to 150 million Euros and are supposed to be shared at 25 million Euros among each of the six states.”
He further stated, “As a prelude to commencing work as soon as we get the funds, we have embarked on engineering road designs; this is important for building any road, be it rural or township roads.
“And we have successfully worked on the designs for 300 kilometers of roads, and today we signed another contract for 200 kilometers of roads, and the contractor will be mobilized to the site today.
“So, within the shortest possible time, work on the other 200 kilometers of roads will commence, adding to the 300 kilometers of roads, to make it 500 kilometers of roads. This will cut across 53 roads in Benue. So, we are expected to build 53 roads as soon as we get the disbursements.”
Numbeve also mentioned that the state is working towards establishing a world-class market for fruits.
He added that the government is yet to decide on the location of the market, which will be between Wurukum in Makurdi and Ihugh in Vandekya LGA of the state.
