By Isiyaka Ismail Wunti
The Bauchi State Government has approved the securing of a five billion naira loan to facilitate the implementation of the new Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project RAAMP in the state.
This loan will be used as counterpart funding for the project, which also includes twelve completed rural roads under the RAAMP initiative, set to be inaugurated soon.
The State Commissioner for Rural Development and Special Duties, Faruq Mustapha, disclosed this while addressing journalists on the outcomes of the State Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Bala Mohammed.
According to Mustapha, Bauchi State leads in the implementation of RAAMP projects among the nineteen participating states hence the move to consolidate on this achievement.
He further stated that the ministry has identified over four hundred kilometers of rural roads requiring urgent intervention which prompted the decision to secure the soft loan.
In a related development, the council approved several key infrastructure projects, including the renovation of the second phase of the NYSC Orientation Camp in Wailo, Completion of the abandoned State NECO office building, Reconstruction of the residence of the state’s first civilian governor late Alhaji Tatari Ali in Zaki Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule explained that the decision to upgrade the late Tatari Ali’s residence is a tribute to his remarkable contributions to Bauchi State’s development.
Similarly, the council approved a proposal from the Commissioner ministry of Natural Resources Development, Maidawa Bello to engage foreign investors in solid minerals exploration within the state.
Maidawa Bello revealed that the initiative is based on agreements reached during the state government’s recent visit to Shandong Province in China where discussions with a Chinese firm were held to enhance Bauchi’s solid minerals sector.
He noted that the project would create thousands of job opportunities and boost the state’s internally generated revenue.
