The Niger Rural Access and Mobility Project II (RAMP II), says it has expended N1.8 billion on the construction of rural roads in the three senatorial districts.

The state Project Coordinator, RAMPII, Mr Ibrahim Nmadu, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday.

Nmadu listed the districts as Niger South, Niger East and Niger North.

"We have so far awarded contract of 176 km roads amounting to N1.8 billion in the three senatorial districts," he said.

Nmadu said that the road projects, which commenced in October 2014, would be completed within 18 months.

He explained that 81.1 km roads being constructed in Niger South, had reached 30 per cent completion.

The project coordinator said that Niger East with 35.97 km roads had reached 60 per cent completion, while the construction of 57.60 km roads in the Niger North had reached 45 per cent completion.

According to him, the aim of the project is to complete 506 km stretch of roads across the state.

Nmadu said that government had started arrangements for the construction of the remaining 330 km roads, being the second phase of the road project.

He noted that aside the construction of roads, the project had commenced designing 20 culvert, including bridges across the state.

The project coordinator said that the projects were being executed by the state government as part of efforts to develop the rural areas with a view to curbing rural urban migration.

He said the measure would also ease the movement of goods and services from the hinterland to the urban centres as well as boost economic activities in the state.

Nmadu said that the RAMP II project was being supported by the World Bank and the Agency Francaise and Development.

Posted on : 02 Nov,2015