From Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has assured the state Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) of his administration’s support because of its critical role as an agent of rural development.

The Governor stated this while delivering a keynote address at a one-day stakeholders workshop on Road Sector Reforms held in Osogbo.

The Governor said the project is aimed at improving rural access and agricultural marketing as well as strengthening the financing and institutional base for effective development.

Adeleke who was represented by the Solicitor General/ Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Morufat Adekemi Bello explained that the importance of road sector cannot be overemphasized to the successful implementation of the project.

He added that the development, management and maintenance of rural and urban roads is one of the top priorities of his administration, hence the need to give full support to the RAAMP project.

The Governor therefore assured that whatever decision taken on the road sector reform during the course of the workshop would be pursued to a laudable conclusion.

In his own address, the National Coordinator Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing, Aminu Mohammed commended the governor for supporting the project with the prompt release of counter-part funds regularly.

He reiterated the interest of the federal government to continually support Osun state in the area of sector reform under RAAMP project to ensure the sustainability of the road investment.

On his part, the project coordinator, Osun Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing project ( RAAMP) Popoola Okediya commended the state for its unflinching support and cooperation to the project in all project obligations .

Okediya explained that the covenant for admitting the state into RAAMP was that the participating state would pass bills establishing Rural Access Road Agency(RARA) and State Road Fund(SRF) into law within six months of effectiveness.