By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh.
In a bold move to revolutionize rural development, Kogi State Government has awarded contracts for the backlog maintenance and rehabilitation of 106.36 kilometres of rural farm roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
Valued at ₦6,387,454,983.00, these contracts mark a pivotal step in improving accessibility and boosting agricultural productivity across the state.
The contract signing ceremony, held on Monday in Lokoja, highlighted the government’s commitment to infrastructure development.
The projects were secured by reputable construction firms after a thorough evaluation process. Successful contractors for these interventions include Philko Limited, K-Class Multi-Global Engineering Construction Company JV Ferotex Construction Limited, Zarcus Construction Limited, and NAEL and BIN HARMAL HYDRO EXPORT Nigeria Limited (NBHH).
Each contractor is tasked with delivering quality work to ensure the timely completion of the assigned projects.
In addition to the road rehabilitation contracts, the government has allocated ₦713,458,813.97 for cross-drainage structure interventions across 66mm.
These works will address critical drainage issues in various locations, with G-Ariths Engineering Limited, Swaleys Nigeria Limited, and Simat Construction and Civil Engineering handling key projects.
Speaking at the event, the State Project Coordinator, Engineer Sheidu Obansa, expressed confidence in the contractors and reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to inclusive rural development under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Engr. Obansa assured the contractors of the state’s unwavering support to facilitate the efficient and timely execution of the projects while emphasizing the importance of delivering work that meets specified quality standards.
Engineer AbdulBasit Musa, the project’s infrastructure engineer, called for robust collaboration between the contractors and the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) stressing that all necessary resources and expertise are in place to ensure the success of these transformative projects.
On behalf of the contractors, Mohammed Ibrahim of Philko Limited pledged a strong commitment to adhering to project timelines and ensuring quality delivery.
He expressed gratitude to the state government for the opportunity to contribute to its vision for rural development.
Members of the SPIU and other stakeholders attended the contract signing ceremony, celebrating the milestone as a significant step towards bridging infrastructure gaps in rural communities.
These projects aim to foster economic growth, improve livelihoods, and enhance rural accessibility in line with the government’s development agenda.
This recent contract award follows a similar initiative in October of the previous year, where contracts for 65.25 kilometres of rural roads were awarded, with civil works now in progress.
