Aiyedatiwa moves to boost food security, agric with construction of rural roads

The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has commenced the construction of rural roads in Idanre Local Council Area of Ondo State to boost the food security and agriculture sector of the state.

According to the governor, the project aligns with his administration’s commitment to uplifting the standard of living for the state’s large farming community.

The governor, who stated this during the groundbreaking ceremony of the 10.9-kilometre Idanre-Obajare Road on Thursday, stressed that agriculture is the backbone of the state’s economy.

He said, “It is our resolve that the government must, of necessity, do more in the rural areas of Ondo State and address the economic gap across the state through the provision of basic infrastructure.

“I am glad that the road project, whose ground-breaking ceremony you are witnessing today, is not only fulfilling this aspiration but also ensuring the continued actualisation of the mandate of RAAMP, which is the construction of rural access roads.

“It is, therefore, heartwarming that one of our campaign promises to the dear people of Idanre Local Government Area in particular and Ondo State in general is being fulfilled today.”

Aiyedatiwa also stated that the project was made possible by the government’s consistent payment of counterpart funds for RAAMP, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

The governor disclosed plans by his administration to establish nine agro-logistics centres across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State, which would further support the agricultural value chain.

“At this juncture, permit me to emphasise the need for all stakeholders to take ownership of these projects. The contractors handling the construction of our rural roads must be closely supervised to ensure that the quality of the roads is not compromised under any guise.

“The fact that these roads have been in a deplorable state for many years makes it imperative that the ongoing intervention must be carried out to the expected threshold of standard. This, hopefully, will achieve a win-win situation for the state, the rural dwellers, and the contractors.”

On his part, the Administrative Secretary of the Directorate of Rural and Community Development and Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP, Mr. Wole Akinkwotu, reiterated the administration’s proactive stance in participating in RAAMP.

He cited Aiyedatiwa’s commitment and the desire to reshape perceptions surrounding rural accessibility as driving factors behind the state’s involvement.

The Director General of Ondo RAAMP, Adeniyi Adelabu, commended the governor for honouring his promise to establish road links between rural areas and urban centres to boost agriculture and food security.