As the federal government is set to make the Baro Port work again , the host communities have faulted the previous arrangements and hasty commissioning of the port insisting that a new approach must be adopted to ensure its eventual take off.
The leader of the Baro Communities Youth association, Hon Jibrin Ndagi Akwanu told LEADERSHIP exclusively that the problem has never been the port facilities but what will make the port functional like the waterways and roads.
He said, “Contrary to the notion that Baro Port was completed and commissioned the port is far from being completed. Expert is needed to advise the government on the need to revisit the dredging of Inland Waterways, especially from Baro-Lokoja.
“New patterns of dredging should be adopted by dredging other water surface not the natural waterways that is already deep as they did in the last dredging” he added
Akwanu said with serious monitoring, Baro Inland Port does not need much rehabilitation for now, but the complimentary infrastructures like dredged river and motorable road from Baro.
He said, “The River Niger should be dredged from surface area from Baro to Lokoja, Onitsha to Burutu down to Port Harcourt before the Baro Port can be functional”.
Similarly, he said the road from Agaie to Katcha down to Agaie must be rehabilitated and dualized connecting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“The federal government is advised to directly sensitise people on water transportation as many of the businessmen are not yet familiar with water transportation and the potential of changing the fortune of the nation and specifically the north economically.
“Flat Bottom Boats that could be able to push not less than seven baggies routing between Baro-Onitsa-Burutu-Port Harcourt will go a long way to connect the nation economically. At that level, we can achieve the potentials of Baro Port, “Akwanu declared.
