World Bank earmarks N4.7b for infrastructure, agric in four states

THE World Bankhas approved a N4.7 billion grant for the construction of rural roads in four statesto fast-track development andencourage agricultural activities in Nigeria.Mr Nicolas Pertiera, the Bank's team leader for rural access roads monitoring projects, disclosed this at the weekendin Minna, during a courtesy call on Niger State's acting governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto.``The World Bank is embarking on the constructionand rehabilitation of selected rural roads in four states of the federation as part of its comprehensiveefforts at opening up rural areas and enhancing agricultural activities.''Pertiera who did not mention the three statesthatwould benefit with Niger under the pilot scheme, said that the four states would benefit from the 315million dollarsgrant.``The World Bank has set aside the sumfor the construction of 200 kilometres rural access roads in each of the four states within a period of six months.''He said that out of the amount, the World Bankwas contributing N2.9 billion($195m) while the French international development agency would contribute N1.8 billion ($120m).Pertiera said thatcare would be taken in selecting the projects to ensure that only communities with high agricultural potentials benefit in order to encourage farmers access to the market.``The project is another way of alleviating poverty because we discovered that most people in the rural areas don't have access to sell their farm produce due to bad roads,'' he said.He urged the benefiting states to collaborate with the World Bank, saying that any state that completes its 200 km rural feeder road network within six months deadline would enjoy additional incentives.Pertiera said that the World Bank would maintain the roads for five years after construction before handing them over to their respective states as part of confidence building mechanism.Responding, Ibeto assured the World Bank team ofgovernment'sdetermination topartner with development agencies to fast track its vision 20:2020 development agenda using agriculture.``This government intends to use agriculture to develop the state and we are ready to partner the World Bank on all conditions needed for this project,'' he said.He commended the World Bank forincluding Niger in the programme, adding that the state road rehabilitation agency wouldmaintain the road once it is handed over to the government.
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