Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has reiterated the commitment of the federal government to making the N3.56 billion worth Baro River Port in Niger State fully operational.
Oyetola said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee yesterday to discuss stakeholders’ engagement with the challenges and prospects of the Baro River Port in Abuja.
The minister admitted that the port has struggled to operate at capacity since its commissioning in 2019 due to gaps in supporting infrastructure and navigability.
He said: “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 port issue was conceived, ordinarily, one would have expected that the infrastructure 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 that we don’t need a lot of dredging. Unfortunately, we are hampered by the scarcity of funds”.
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 told the committee that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) plans to dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of waterways, ensuring Baro Port maintains the appropriate depth for year-round operations.
“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, 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, Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), recalled that Lord Lugard first established the Baro Port in 1908 to facilitate the shipment of agricultural produce and livestock, serving as a significant trade link between northern and southern Nigeria.
He noted that the port holds significant economic potential for the country, with all necessary facilities and equipment already in place.
However, he identified the lack of dredging and inadequate road and rail connectivity as key challenges preventing the port from reaching full operational capacity.
Oyebamiji informed the committee that the previous administration awarded the project N3.56 billion, of which N3.35 billion, representing 94 per cent, has already been paid to the contractor.
He added that arrangements are underway to concession the port to private operators to attract fresh investment and ensure effective operationalisation.
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. He acknowledged funding as a significant hurdle and appealed to lawmakers for adequate budgetary provisions to complete the linkage.
The committee’s chairman, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi (APC, Niger), said the panel’s role is not investigative but facilitative, aimed at ensuring the full operationalisation of the port.
He disclosed that a national stakeholders’ forum will follow the current engagement to build consensus and mobilise political, technical, and financial backing for the project.
Abdullahi stressed the committee’s determination to see Baro Port fully utilised, describing its strategic value to national trade, regional connectivity, and economic diversification as “immense and non-negotiable.”
