FG committed to full operation of Baro Port – Oyetola

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed the commitment of the federal government to the full operation of the Baro River Port in Niger State. The minister gave the assurance on Tuesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of […]

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed the commitment of the federal government to the full operation of the Baro River Port in Niger State.

The minister gave the assurance on Tuesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of the Baro River Port.

Daily Trust reports that the ad-hoc committee was constituted after the adoption of a motion on the need to convene a national stakeholders’ engagement on the challenges and prospects of the Inland Port.

Oyetola noted that since the commissioning of the port in 2019, it has not been able to operate in full capacity due to gaps in supporting infrastructure and navigability.

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“Although commissioned in 2019 under the past administration, the port has faced operational constraints — chief among them, the absence of critical linkages to road and rail infrastructure, and navigability challenges along the River Niger.

“The challenges are there, no doubt about it. When the issue of the port was being conceived, ordinarily one would have expected that infrastructures that would make it operational should have been provided.

“The ministry was created barely two years ago, so we inherited it from the previous administration. And part of what we’re trying to do is to ensure the need to do a lot of dredging. Unfortunately, we are hampered by the scarcity of funds”, he said.

The minister however outlined concrete steps to overcome the existing challenges and unlock Baro Port’s full economic potential.

According to him, the measures include improving river navigability through capital and continuous dredging, developing road and rail connections for seamless cargo movement, attracting credible private sector operators through concessions and partnerships, and instituting transparent governance systems.

He informed the Committee that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) plans to dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways, a move he said, will ensure Baro Port maintains the appropriate depth for year-round operations.

He added, “Our Ministry remains unwavering in its determination to transform Baro from a dormant facility into a thriving inland gateway. We are working closely with the Federal Ministries of Works and Transportation to deliver an integrated framework that combines infrastructure, operational efficiency, and private sector participation,” he said.

Oyetola noted that Baro River Port which is located in Niger State is strategically positioned to link agricultural value chains and serve as a feeder to Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri ports.

According to him, once operational, it could significantly boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and ease pressure on the nation’s highways.

In his presentation, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, recalled that the Baro Port was first established in 1908 by Lord Lugard to facilitate the shipment of agricultural produce and livestock, serving as a major trade link between northern and southern Nigeria.

Also speaking, Minister of Transportation Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali revealed that his ministry is developing a rail line to connect Baro Port with the rest of the country.

Speaking earlier, the House Ad-Hoc Committee Chairman, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, said the investigative hearing was aimed at ensuring the full operationalisation of the port.

He disclosed that the current engagement will be followed by a national stakeholders’ forum to build consensus and mobilise political, technical, and financial backing for the project.