Blue Economy
House Committee Condemns Poor Implementation of Baro Inland Port Project
House Committee Condemns Poor Implementation of Baro Inland Port Project
Multi-billion Naira Waterway Infrastructure Remains Largely Unutilized Despite 2019 Commissioning
A House of Representatives committee investigating Nigeria’s inland waterway infrastructure has delivered a scathing assessment of the Baro Inland Port project in Niger State, describing the facility as existing “only on paper” despite massive government investment.
The Ad hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of Baro Inland Port expressed dismay at the state of the strategic waterway facility during an oversight visit to Governor Umaru Bago following an inspection of the port.
Representative Idris Wase (APC-Plateau) criticized the previous administration’s handling of the project, stating that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 commissioning was merely ceremonial. “What we saw is a project that was merely commissioned on paper,” Wase declared, emphasizing the disconnect between political fanfare and actual infrastructure delivery.
The lawmaker positioned the port as crucial to Nigeria’s economic future, describing it as “a gateway to Nigeria’s economy” while lamenting that its neglect reflects broader national infrastructure deficits.
Committee Chairman, Representative Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), highlighted the deplorable condition of access roads as a primary obstacle to the port’s functionality. The infrastructure challenges have rendered the multi-billion naira investment virtually useless, with journey times to the facility extended dramatically due to failed road networks.
“A trip that should ordinarily take half an hour now stretches into four grueling hours because of the failed portions of the road,” Abdullahi explained, underscoring how poor connectivity undermines waterway transport efficiency.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), represented by General Manager of Business Development Bolawale Adetola, acknowledged that the port has remained significantly underutilized since its commissioning. “Everything that a port needs to work is on ground. The key challenges are the access road and the silted channel, which requires dredging,” Adetola stated.
NIWA’s assessment reveals that while the basic port infrastructure exists, critical supporting elements including navigable waterway channels and reliable road access remain unaddressed, preventing the facility from realizing its potential as a major inland waterway hub.
Governor Umaru Bago emphasized the project’s national significance, rejecting characterizations of Baro Port as merely a regional initiative. “This is not a Niger project, and not even a northern project. It is a Nigerian project,” the governor insisted, calling for urgent federal intervention.
Bago referenced the port’s historical importance within Nigeria’s colonial-era transport network, noting its strategic connection to the Lagos-Kano-Jibia rail line and its role in the Northern Africa Trade Corridor conceived by the nation’s founding fathers.
The House committee assured stakeholders of its determination to transform the facility from what Abdullahi described as a potential “white elephant project” into a functioning economic asset. The lawmakers pledged to coordinate with the Nigerian Railway Corporation and other relevant agencies to address outstanding infrastructure challenges.
Representative Wase committed the committee to working with multiple stakeholders to ensure equitable infrastructure distribution across Nigeria, emphasizing that the port’s revival represents broader efforts to strengthen the country’s transportation networks.
The Baro Port controversy highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s inland waterway development strategy. NIWA plans to dredge up to 2,000 kilometers of inland waterways to ensure facilities like Baro can maintain appropriate depths for year-round operations, according to recent ministerial statements.
The port’s strategic location on the Niger River, approximately 650 kilometers from the sea, positions it as a critical link between Nigeria’s northern agricultural regions and southern commercial centers. Its successful operationalization could significantly reduce pressure on the country’s overburdened road transport system while enhancing waterway utilization.
- The committee’s findings underscore the need for integrated planning combining waterway infrastructure, road networks, and rail connections to maximize Nigeria’s transport efficiency and economic potential.