The Ogun State Government has issued a stern warning to contractors handling various components of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), cautioning that any firm found lagging behind the agreed timelines or failing to meet required standards would face decisive sanctions.
Issuing the warning was the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor and Commissioner for finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, during a strategic meeting with contractors to review the progress of ongoing RAAMP projects across the State.
Okubadejo, stressed that the present administration would not tolerate delays or substandard execution of projects that were critical to the economic wellbeing of the people.
Describing RAAMP as a grassroots-focused intervention, the Commissioner noted that the project had directly impacted the heart of Nigeria’s economy by supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), farmers and rural communities, stating that the initiative represented tangible democracy dividends, as it was designed to reduce the cost of production and transportation for farmers, ultimately lowering food prices for citizens.
“When the cost of transporting farm produce from rural communities to markets is reduced, the overall cost of food items will naturally decline. This intervention is deliberate, from farm to market. We are intervening at the farm level, along the access roads and within the market system to ensure seamless movement of goods,” he stated.
Mr. Okubadejo emphasied that the State Government was determined to secure value for money, noting that RAAMP was a loan-funded project and must translate into measurable economic transformation. According to him, projects of this nature were essential to lifting citizens out of poverty by creating an enabling environment for enterprise and productivity.
He stressed that the government was focused on results, noting that contractors must strictly adhere to agreed standards and timelines or risk being blacklisted from participating in future projects, emphasising that the ultimate objective was economic development, job creation and sustainable growth.
Okubadejo added that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration would not pay lip service to development, citing ongoing infrastructure expansion across the State, including extensive road construction, rehabilitation and equipping of technical colleges and other strategic interventions aimed at empowering young people, stimulating economic growth, and extending development to rural hinterlands and farming communities.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator, Engr. Waheed Adejumo, explained that the meeting was convened to critically assess performance levels across project sites, noting that some contractors were progressing satisfactorily, while others required closer scrutiny to identify and address performance gaps.
He noted that RAAMP was primarily aimed at connecting rural communities to markets through improved access roads, thereby reducing post-harvest losses, increasing farmers’ incomes and improving living standards.“ With improved rural access, farmers can transport their produce more efficiently to processing centres and markets. This will significantly reduce post-harvest losses, boost earnings, and enhance the overall quality of life for rural dwellers,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the contractors, a representative of Ticktos Nig. Limited Engr. Shobola Moses and another from Motef Engineering Limited, Mr. Olaogun Monday, expressed appreciation to the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for the trust reposed in them to execute the road projects, commending the Government’s commitment to infrastructure and rural development.
They assured the State Government of their resolve to strictly comply with approved standards and timelines, pledging to intensify efforts to ensure prompt and seamless delivery of all projects in line with contractual specifications.
No comments:
Post a Comment