The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rehabilitation and Operation of Baro Inland Port and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) visited the port to check its condition.
The committee leader, Sai’du Abdullahi from Bida/Gbako Federal Constituency, led the members to meet with people involved in the port on Saturday.
He said the purpose of their visit was to look at the port’s facilities and find out what problems are stopping it from starting work.
Abdullahi said he was happy with the port equipment but was unhappy about the unfinished road and railway connections.
He explained, “Almost all the equipment needed for the port to start working is already there, except the road and railway access.”
He added, “It is sad that a trip which should take 30 minutes now takes four hours because there is no good road.”
The chairman said the road contract was given almost 10 years ago but is still not finished.
He stressed that there must be proper project management and deadlines for contracts. He also said the committee will work with others in the national assembly to solve the problems at the port.
Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of NIWA, also spoke and said the committee’s visit was a good thing.
Oyebamiji’s representative, James Adetola, said the port was officially opened by President Buhari in 2019 but has not been used much.
He said NIWA has been trying to get the port running and the committee’s help will be useful in solving money problems.
He mentioned that the port needs a good access road and dredging (cleaning the water channel) to work well.
“Everything a port needs is already there except the road. Also, the water channel often fills with silt, so we need to dredge it,” he said.
Baro port is located on the River Niger and is an important transport center for the country’s inland waterways and rail system.
