The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has pledged to breathe new life into the Baro Inland Port in Niger State, transforming it from a dormant facility into a vibrant hub of trade and logistics.
Speaking on Tuesday before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the port, Oyetola acknowledged that the facility, commissioned in 2019, has failed to reach its potential due to severe infrastructure gaps.
“Although inaugurated under the previous administration, the port has struggled with the absence of vital road and rail links, as well as navigability issues along the River Niger,” Oyetola explained. “When the project was conceived, one would have expected these enabling infrastructures to be in place. Unfortunately, they were not.”
The minister said his ministry, created less than two years ago, inherited the problem and is now working with the federal ministries of works and transportation to develop an integrated solution. This, he noted, will involve extensive dredging up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways to give the port sufficient depth for efficient operations.
Highlighting Baro’s strategic position, Oyetola said the facility could serve as a critical trade link for the Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri ports, boosting Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He also disclosed plans to concession the port to attract private investment.
“We are determined to transform Baro into a thriving inland gateway. Our focus is on infrastructure, operational efficiency, and private sector participation,” he assured.
Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, also identified funding as a major obstacle to the port’s revival, while committee chairman Saidu Abdullahi announced that lawmakers will embark on an oversight visit to the facility.
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