By Our Kogi correspondent
The Kogi State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (Kogi RAAMP) has emerged as a transformative initiative reshaping the rural development landscape of the state through inclusive infrastructure upgrades and community-centered planning.
Coordinated by the State Project Coordinator, Engineer Sheidu Obansa Adamu, and backed by the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Rural Development, Engineer Abdulmutalib Muhammad, the project is strategically addressing critical rural infrastructure needs and boosting agricultural value chains across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Far from being a top-down approach, Kogi RAAMP is being implemented with broad-based participation from key stakeholders. The State Project Monitoring Committee (SPMC), chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, collaborates closely with traditional rulers, community leaders, market associations, youth and women groups, and other opinion leaders—ensuring that local voices directly shape project priorities.
Strategic, Balanced Interventions
Kogi RAAMP has launched multi-faceted interventions across all regions of the state:
In Kogi West, road upgrades are ongoing in Ilai-Ifeolukotun, along with market development in Aiyegunle.
In Kogi Central, significant work is progressing on the vital AKU-Obajana road and the AKU Market Hub.
In Kogi East, the Elubi-Etiaja access road and Ajaka Market are undergoing notable transformation.
These interventions are part of a broader, integrated vision to reduce post-harvest losses, improve rural access, enhance agricultural logistics, and empower local economies.
The scope of the project covers nearly every local government area in the state, with a focus on sustainability, inclusiveness, and economic impact.
Infrastructure with a Human Face
Every rehabilitated road, modernized market, and installed culvert reflects more than just physical development, it speaks to improved livelihoods, restored dignity, and renewed economic vitality for farmers, traders, and rural entrepreneurs.
Funded by the World Bank with substantial counterpart support from the Kogi State Government, the project is a benchmark in transparency, accountability, and community ownership. Environmental and social safeguards have been integrated throughout the project cycle, ensuring that progress does not compromise ecological or social harmony.
Ododo’s Vision: No Rural Community Left Behind
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that every rural community in Kogi State benefits from the development agenda.
He views Kogi RAAMP as a pivotal platform for delivering that promise.
In a statement, the project’s Development Communication Officer, Ndamodu Ali, emphasized that the success of Kogi RAAMP depends not just on government, but on sustained community engagement, collective advocacy, and shared responsibility.
“Now is the time for unity, not division,” he said. “Every stakeholder, citizen, critic, or champion—has a role to play in sustaining the progress of Kogi RAAMP. Let us speak with facts, embrace transparency, and work together to unlock rural prosperity.”
As the project continues to unfold, Kogi RAAMP remains a beacon of hope, demonstrating how collaborative development can pave roads, literally and figuratively, to opportunity and inclusive growth.
