Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) launches large-scale routine maintenance of 521 km of rural roads across five...

Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) launches large-scale routine maintenance of 521 km of rural roads across five Nigerian states, creating 100,000 workdays of decent employment

2 March 2026

Abuja, Nigeria (ILO News) - The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has officially commenced routine maintenance works covering 521 kilometers of rural roads across five participating states: Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Niger, Ogun and Sokoto. The initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening rural connectivity, agricultural value chains, and inclusive economic development.

Group Photo of RMG Training. Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. 03/2026.

The routine maintenance programme currently engages 271 locally recruited Road Maintenance Group (RMG) members, generating approximately 100,000 workdays of decent paid employment. In alignment with Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles, 34 per cent of the workforce are women, while 7 percents are person with disabilities, reinforcing RAAMP's commitment to inclusive participation and equitable access to livelihood opportunities.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is providing technical assistance to support the institutionalization of labour-based routine maintenance systems under RAAMP. The ILO works closely with the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), State Project Implementation Units (SPIUs), and relevant ministries and agencies to ensure coordinated, efficient, and sustainable implementation.

A central objective of the Employment Intensive maintenance component is the generation of decent empowering employment, contributing to improved road conditions while simultaneously strengthening rural livelihoods. Significant preparatory and institutional milestones have been achieved.

RMG Training, Sokoto, Nigeria. 03/2026

Annual Road Maintenance Plans (ARMPs) were prepared and approved based on detailed road condition surveys. Comprehensive rate analysis and cost validation were undertaken using the Nigeria Rural Transport Infrastructure Management System (NiRTIMS), ensuring transparency and accuracy in budgeting. Fifteen (15) contract documents are finalized and ready for procurement of recurrent works alongside routine maintenance activities. The main focus of ILO's technical support is: Systematizing routine maintenance and spot improvement interventions: Promoting local resource-based and labor-intensive (EIIP) approaches; Strengthening maintenance planning and budgeting systems and Enhancing transparency, accountability, and performance monitoring.

Community-based contracts have been formalized, On-site demonstration training has been completed, insurance coverage has been secured to safeguard workers for all RMG. Dedicated bank accounts were established to enable transparent, output-based wage payments directly to RMG members. Essential hand tools, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and equipment have been procured and distributed to ensure operational readiness and cost-effective delivery throughout implementation.

RMG Training, Akwa Ibom. Nigeria. 3/2026.

Digital Monitoring and Quality Assurance: Work progress and quality are being monitored using the mobile-based CoSMOS system, enabling real-time reporting, enhanced supervision, and data-driven performance tracking. This digital monitoring framework strengthens accountability and supports evidence-based decision-making.

Advancing Sustainable Rural Development-The commencement of routine maintenance across the five pilot states demonstrates the effectiveness of combining infrastructure development with inclusive employment generation. By embedding labour-based maintenance within institutional frameworks, RAAMP is contributing to sustainable road asset management, improved agricultural marketing, and strengthened rural economies.

Engr. Aminu Bodinga Mohammed, National Coordinator, RAAMP, extended thanks to World Bank and French Development Agency for their Credit support to RAAMP. He also mentioned that the pilot Routine maintenance system will be a milestone in Nigeria to maintain the Rural Roads asset cost effectively and through involvement of local community transferring ownership. He also expressed happiness that states will be capacitated with management, technical and fund to construct and maintain Roads creating as a culture and extended to all RAAMP states in future.

Flag off Routine Maintenance works, Sokoto. Nigeria. 3/2026.

Er. Rakesh Tripathi, Team lead Transport Infrastructure, World Bank extended his thanks to RAAMP & ILO for joining hands on expanded Implementation support through capacity building and establishing maintenance system under RAAMP for sustainable access to rural community impacting in employment and economic growth in this area.

Dr. Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director mentioned: The collaboration between RAAMP and the International Labour Organization represents a strategic approach to enhancing rural transport infrastructure while promoting decent work, social inclusion, and long-term institutional capacity promoting sustainability and social justice.

About Strengthening Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project(RAAMP) is a flagship programme of Government of Nigeria under Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with financial support of 575 m USD from the Word Bank, French Development Cooperation AFD . RAAMP aims to upgrade and maintain 5,000 kilometers of rural roads, improve 40 agricultural logistics centers, and strengthen asset management, financing, and institutional capacity across 19 participating states. By upgrading, spot-improving, and maintaining rural roads, the project is expected to provide communities with reliable, year-round access to markets, health facilities, schools, and other essential socio-economic services.

Flag off Routine Maintenance works. Sokoto, Nigeria. 3/2026.