The story of Baro Inland Port epitomises the cycle of unfulfilled potential that has plagued Nigeria’s development. Five years after its commissioning with much fanfare, this $16 million port project in Niger State has been practically abandoned and overtaken by weeds.
In the considered opinion of this newspaper, this is unacceptable and demonstrates a lack of consistency, prioritisation and political will when it comes to critical infrastructure projects.
As the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria has no excuse for neglecting viable projects like Baro Port which can spur growth, jobs and prosperity.
When it was launched on January 19, 2019,hopes were high that the port would help transform the economy of Northern Nigeria by enhancing intermodal transportation and connectivity.
The port has the capacity for 5000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) and was equipped with modern cargo handling equipment. It was meant to reduce logistics costs for Nigerian businesses by over $300 million annually.
The port was constructed by a Chinese firm, CGCC Project Limited at the cost of N5.8 billion. The project is equipped with a quarry length of 150 meters, cargo stacking yard of 7,000 square meters, a transit shed of 3, 600 square meters and a capacity of 5,000 TEU at a time.
Now, five years later, not only have these hopes been dashed, but there are fears the port may go the way of other failed projects and white elephants dotting Nigeria’s landscape. This must not be allowed to happen.
The federal government must realise that the economic benefits of Baro port are now under threat by the delayed take-off. There is every need to revive the Baro port and make it functional, especially at this critical time when the nation is facing a drop in revenue.
We must collectively not lose focus of the fact that the Baro port project was designed to enhance intermodal transportation connectivity in Nigeria. It is also meant to reduce the pressure of big trucks on the country’s roads. It has the capacity to create huge economic opportunities for Nigerians and help in decongesting similar ports.
The project, according to experts, will generate nothing less than 4,500 direct and indirect jobs.
Although the government has attributed the delayed take-off of Baro Port to the non-completion of the major access roads to the multi-million-naira inland port.
Nonetheless, it isn’t an impossible task for the government if it is truly committed to the project. More than 13 years since the contract for the 53 kilometer Agaie-Katcha-Baro road which is the major access road to the port was awarded, non-release of funds has remained a major concern. The government must begin to walk the talk and show commitment to the project.
Completing the port and making it function optimally is long overdue.
There is no gainsaying that the port will impact positively on the Nigeria economy. Specifically, it will have an impact on the local economy in the state. Jobs will be created and not just for the host community, but for the teaming youths across the country.
The opportunity cost of these failures is huge for a country with over 50% poverty rate. Nigeria must learn from past mistakes. Critical projects like Baro Port should be protected from political and policy fluctuations.
Making Baro Port in Niger State and other ports on the River Niger, such as the Lokoja and Oguta ports viable for shipment of cargoes within the country, particularly to the northern part, will save Nigeria a whopping N100 billion in freight costs for shippers. No serious government will toy with such a project.
Importantly, Baro Port is regarded as the first settlement of the Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Lugard, in 1912. It was frequently visited by tourists who want to explore the history of colonial Nigeria.
This is why, in our opinion, the government must do everything possible to make Baro Port operational. The project will also help in reducing the insecurity currently ravaging Niger State and other parts of the North.
The state governor and all the National Assembly members from Niger State must rally support for the takeoff of Baro Port. They owe that debt to the people.
No doubt, the port’s immense economic potential mandates prompt action. Nigeria’s future prosperity hinges on the ability to translate plans into concrete achievements.
Baro Port could set the template. Its success will be a major plank in the nation’s drive for economic diversification.
But continued neglect will reinforce perceptions of Nigeria as a graveyard of abandoned projects. The choice before the government is clear.
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