World Bank Set to build 534 km Road in Benue

BENUE- The Rural Access and Mobility Project, funded by the World Bank, would build 534 km of rural roads in Benue to assist agricultural produce transportation.

Mr. Stephen Numbeve, the State Project Coordinator, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.

Numbeve stated that the initiative would also build warehouses throughout the state for the storage of agricultural commodities.

“We prioritized the development of engineering road designs for the 534 kilometers of roads we intend to construct. Surveys, geophysical studies, and final designs have been completed.

“With all these in place, we are ready to move forward once the funds are available. These roads will connect farms to markets, enabling farmers to transport their produce with ease.

“Beyond roads, we plan to build warehouses where farmers can store fresh or dry produce securely. This infrastructure will significantly boost agricultural productivity and market access.

“The roads span across all local governments in the state. However, there is no specific allocation or sequence for the 534 kilometers.

“These are not trunk A or trunk B roads, which are federal and state roads, respectively. Instead, they are trunk C or D roads designed to create access for farmers to reach markets,” he added.

The SPC stated that the previous administration's failure to pay the counterpart fund resulted in a little delay in the construction of the roads.

He stated that whereas other states have paid their dues and gone on, we had done the same when the new administration took office.

“We are now at the stage of accessing funds from the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

“These funds will be directed toward building roads and markets. So far, we haven’t accessed any funds, but progress has been made.

“While access to funds is a challenge, it’s important to understand that international funding involves statutory requirements.

“These funds are not government resources, so certain prerequisites must be met. For example, counterpart funding is mandatory. If it isn’t paid, the funds cannot be accessed,” he said.