The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank Group and other development partners, has initiated new moves to improve the nation’s rural infrastructure and access through the scale-up of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The RAAMP is a World Bank Group’s joint initiative with the Federal Government of Nigeria aimed at improving rural access and agricultural marketing in participating states.
By its design, the project focuses on rehabilitating rural roads, constructing markets, and other essential infrastructure to boost agricultural productivity and create economic opportunities for rural communities.
On the funding structure, while the World Bank is providing $500 million in financing, the Nigerian government is contributing a $100 million counterpart fund, totaling $600 million for the project’s scale up.
At the Early Market Engagement Event on the RAAMP held on Thursday in Abuja, stakeholders from across the public and private sectors gathered to prepare for fresh procurement opportunities under the expanded RAAMP initiative.
Speaking at the forum, Director of the Project Coordinating Unit, Bukar Musa, described the event as a critical step in preparing the market for the upcoming procurement opportunities supported by the development partners, including the World Bank and the federal and state governments.
Also, the RAAMP National Coordinator, Aminu Mohammed, said: “The scale-up phase presents expanded opportunities, but it also demands higher levels of professionalism, efficiency, and compliance with international best practices.
“This forum is not merely a formality, but a strategic step in preparing the ground for successful and impactful delivery of rural infrastructure and services across Nigeria”, he added.
The National Coordinator harped on the importance of early engagement, transparency, and mutual understanding between those implementing the project and the market, and participants to actively participate in the programme’s sessions, ask questions, share insights, and explore avenues for meaningful collaboration.
In his remarks, Procurement Consultant for RAAMP, Muhammad Yahaya, explained that future procurement under the project would be conducted through the national, international, and limited market approach for PFB/RFQ under works, goods, and consultancy services in line with the World Bank procurement regulation of IPF borrowers.
The event, which featured contractors, consultants, suppliers, and representatives of government ministries departments and agencies (MDAs), served as a platform to share technical expectations, packaging strategies, and procurement frameworks aimed at ensuring quality service delivery.
