The Plateau State Government, in partnership with the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) and supported by development partners—the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD)—has officially flagged off civil works for three Agricultural Logistics Centres (ALCs) in Shendam, Mangu, and Bassa (Gengre). This milestone signals a major leap in the state’s rural development and agricultural marketing strategy.
The commissioning ceremony, attended by dignitaries including the Executive Governor of Plateau State, traditional rulers, top government officials, and development partners, reflects the collective commitment to transforming the agricultural landscape and boosting rural infrastructure.
Delivering the keynote address, the National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, ably represented by Engr, Salisu Abubakar, the head of Agro-logistic emphasized that the event goes beyond ceremony. “It is a bold declaration of our shared commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, strengthening the agricultural value chain, and promoting rural economic growth,” he said.
The National Coordinator described the ALCs as vital infrastructure that will:
Reduce post-harvest losses through aggregation and storage,
Link farmers to markets,
Catalyze agribusiness investment, and
Enhance service delivery to farmers and agro-processors.
He lauded the Plateau State Government for its unwavering commitment, praising the leadership of His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for timely counterpart funding, strong political will, and proactive policy support including the establishment of the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and the State Road Fund (SRF).
In his address, the Governor acknowledged the foundational efforts of past project coordinators and reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to continuity, meritocracy, and transparency. “Plateau belongs to all of us,” he stated. “No contractor will be allowed to cut corners. We are building roads that last.”
He further noted that ₦2 billion in counterpart funding had been released by the state, and praised the SPIU team for their diligence. He encouraged youth to embrace modern agribusiness as a viable career, revealing a new partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train 10,000 agribusiness youth over five years.
Engr. Daniel Tensei, Plateau State Project Coordinator for RAAMP, welcomed guests and provided a progress report. He highlighted that:
330.01 kilometers of rural roads are under construction across local government areas,
45-meter cross-drainages are being constructed to improve road durability, and
The ALCs will support improved market access and agricultural value addition.
He commended the Governor’s strategic leadership, especially the signing and operationalization of RARA and SRF, which position the state for future scaling-up funds. “The land has become greener,” Engr. Tensei noted. “We pledge our full commitment to deliver these interventions on time and with the highest standards.”
He also charged contractors to rise to the occasion. “You’ve passed a rigorous procurement process. Now you must deliver—quality and on time. Our Governor is known for excellence, and he will be on your neck.”
As the project moves from commissioning to execution, all speakers called on local communities, traditional institutions, and stakeholders to take ownership and actively monitor project delivery, ensuring that public funds translate into sustainable value.
RAAMP in Plateau State is scheduled to conclude by 2026, and with today’s momentum, the state is well on course to becoming a national model for rural access and agricultural market integration.
SOURCE: FPMU RAAMP DEVCOM UNIT