Anambra to set up Rural Access Roads Agency, bill before House of Assembly

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State government has planned to establish Rural Access Roads Agency that would ensure an all year round motorable roads across all the communities in the state.

When operational, the Agency will handle the overall management, development, rehabilitation, reconstruction and maintenance of Class C and Class D roads in Anambra State.

Already, an executive bill for the establishment of the Agency has passed through second reading at the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The bill also seeks to improve rural access, strengthen transport infrastructure and enhance agricultural marketing across communities in the state.

At the plenary, the Majority Leader of the House, Ikenna Ofodeme, explained that the establishment of the Agency would ensure a coordinated and sustainable approach to the maintenance of rural roads, which he described as critical to economic growth, especially in agrarian communities.

Ofodeme, who represents Ekwusigo constituency, noted that poor rural road networks have continued to hinder agricultural productivity, increase transportation costs and limit access to markets, stressing that the proposed Agency would bridge the infrastructural gap between urban and rural areas.

In their contributions to the debate on the bill, the member representing Aguata Constituency 1, Mr Anayo Okpalaeke, his Dunukofia Constituency counterpart, Chuks Azotani and the member representing Anaocha Constituency 2, Chief Ejike Okechukwu, described the bill as timely and development-driven, emphasizing that improved rural roads would boost commerce, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance security in remote areas.

However the member representing Anyamelum Constituency, Bernard Udemezue, who just resumed sitting after six months suspension , argued that the proposed agency would undermine the constitutional responsibilities of the local government system.

According to him, the functions outlined in the bill fall within the statutory duties of local governments if properly empowered.

The Speaker of the House, Somtochukwu Udeze, who presided at the plenary, noted that a similar agency exists at the federal level as Federal Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), which is also operational in Anambra State.