By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the Baro River Port in Niger State into a vibrant inland gateway.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday made this assurance during a meeting with the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of the Baro River Port.
“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,” Oyetola said.
“Our Ministry remains unwavering in its determination to transform Baro from a dormant facility into a thriving inland gateway.”
The Minister acknowledged that the port has faced operational constraints since its commissioning in 2019, including the absence of critical linkages to road and rail infrastructure and navigability challenges along the River Niger. However, he outlined concrete steps to overcome these challenges, including improving river navigability through dredging, developing road and rail connections, attracting private sector operators, and instituting transparent governance systems.
“The challenges are there, no doubt about it,” Oyetola said. “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. But essentially, the funding thing has been a constraint.”
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) plans to dredge up to 2,000 kilometers of inland waterways, ensuring Baro Port maintains the appropriate depth for year-round operations. NIWA’s Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, noted that the port holds significant economic potential for the country, but lacks dredging and adequate road and rail connectivity.
“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,” Oyetola said.
The House Ad-Hoc Committee Chairman, Rt. Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, stressed the committee’s determination to see Baro Port fully utilized, describing its strategic value to national trade, regional connectivity, and economic diversification as “immense and non-negotiable.”