FG renews commitment to revitalising Niger port

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the Baro River Port in Niger State into a thriving inland trade gateway, addressing years of underutilisation since its commissioning in 2019.

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The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, gave the assurance on Tuesday while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of the Baro River Port.

The ad-hoc committee was set up following the adoption of a motion calling for a national stakeholders’ engagement on the operational prospects of the inland port.

Mr Oyetola acknowledged that the port has struggled to operate at capacity due to the absence of critical supporting infrastructure, such as road and rail linkages, and navigability challenges along the River Niger.

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He explained that the ministry, which was established a few years ago, inherited these challenges from the previous administration.

Limited funding, he added,, has further delayed essential interventions such as large-scale dredging.

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 issue of the port was being conceived, ordinarily one would have expected that infrastructures that would make it operational should have been provided.”

Outlining measures to unlock the port’s economic potential, Mr Oyetola said the government plans to improve navigability through capital and continuous dredging, develop connecting transport infrastructure, attract credible private operators through concessions and partnerships, and strengthen governance systems.

According to him, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) is preparing to dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways to ensure Baro Port maintains the required depth for year-round operations.

He described Baro’s location as strategic, linking agricultural value chains and serving as a feeder to Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri ports.

The minister said once fully operational, the port could boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while easing pressure on major highways.

NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, traced the port’s history to 1908, when it was established by Lord Lugard to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and livestock between northern and southern Nigeria.

He said the port is equipped with the necessary facilities but remains hindered by insufficient dredging and poor transport connections.

The project, awarded at a cost of ₦3.56 billion, according to him, has been 94 per cent paid for, and arrangements are underway to concession the port to private operators to attract fresh investment.

On his part, the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, told the committee that plans are in place to connect Baro Port to the national rail network, but progress has been slowed by funding constraints.

He urged lawmakers to prioritise budgetary allocations for the linkage.

The committee chairman, Saidu Abdullahi, stressed that the panel’s role is to facilitate, not investigate, the port’s operationalisation.

He said the engagement will be followed by a national stakeholders’ forum to mobilise political, technical, and financial support for the project, describing Baro’s economic and strategic importance as “immense and non-negotiable.”

The committee resolved to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the port on Saturday to determine the immediate steps required to make it fully functional.

The Baro River Port

Baro River Port, located in Niger State, is an inland port on the River Niger with strategic potential to serve as a central cargo distribution point for northern Nigeria.

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Originally established in 1908 under British colonial rule, it played a key role in transporting agricultural produce and livestock to southern markets. Its modern reconstruction was completed in 2019.

Strategically located, Baro Port has the capacity to handle thousands of tonnes of goods annually and could serve as a feeder to Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri ports.

Its revival is expected to stimulate agricultural value chains, create jobs, reduce transportation costs, ease pressure on Nigeria’s highways, and boost competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).