{"id":120306,"date":"2025-07-02T20:59:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T19:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=120306"},"modified":"2025-07-02T21:05:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T20:05:23","slug":"reps-set-to-resuscitate-baro-inland-port-eye-economic-rebirth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/reps-set-to-resuscitate-baro-inland-port-eye-economic-rebirth\/","title":{"rendered":"Reps Set to Resuscitate Baro Inland Port, Eye Economic Rebirth"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n
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The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of the Baro Inland Port has officially begun its work, with Chairman Hon. Saidu Abdullahi unveiling an ambitious roadmap to revive the long-neglected facility into a functional economic hub.<\/div>\n
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Speaking during the committee\u2019s inaugural session held Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, Hon. Abdullahi emphasized the pressing need to shift from rhetoric to action and restore Baro Port in Niger State, once a cornerstone of Nigeria\u2019s multimodal transport network.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur goal is to transform years of empty promises into concrete results. Baro Port has been idle for too long, it\u2019s time to reawaken this sleeping economic powerhouse,\u201d Abdullahi declared.<\/div>\n
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He recalled the strategic importance of the port during the colonial era, when agricultural commodities from northern Nigeria were transported via rail to Baro and subsequently ferried down the inland waterways to southern seaports\u2014a seamless blend of rail and river transport.<\/div>\n
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However, post-independence dependence on oil and the rise of road-based logistics rendered inland waterways underutilized, a shift Abdullahi believes has hampered both economic growth and environmental sustainability, while also putting immense pressure on Nigeria\u2019s deteriorating road infrastructure.<\/div>\n
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Citing global benchmarks to illustrate the untapped potential, Abdullahi pointed to China\u2019s Yangtze River Port, which stretches over 6,100 kilometers, and the Mississippi River Port system in the United States, which spans more than 12,000 miles and links 31 states via waterway trade routes.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThese examples demonstrate the economic power of inland water transport. Nigeria must adapt and replicate such models for national development,\u201d he noted.<\/div>\n
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He identified three critical challenges standing in the way of Baro Port\u2019s reactivation: dredging the channel to ensure vessel access, linking the port to the national railway via a Baro-Minna line, and constructing access roads to support cargo movement.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe equipment needed to operate the port is already in place. What\u2019s left are key infrastructure upgrades,\u201d he explained.<\/div>\n
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Abdullahi said the committee\u2019s core task is to bring relevant stakeholders to the table, diagnose the current roadblocks, and craft a strategic blueprint for the port\u2019s operationalisation.<\/div>\n
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Addressing the financing gap, Abdullahi stressed the importance of alternative funding mechanisms.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe can no longer depend solely on government allocations. It\u2019s time to engage the private sector, seek development finance, and pursue public-private partnerships. Budget cycles alone won\u2019t deliver this project,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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He added that a successful Baro Port revival could serve as a national model for unlocking other stalled infrastructure projects.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWith a team drawn from all six geopolitical zones, we\u2019re positioned to deliver a blueprint that others can emulate,\u201d he affirmed.<\/div>\n
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He also appealed to the media to play a proactive role in amplifying progress, monitoring challenges, and galvanizing public support for the port\u2019s transformation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is a matter of national economic significance. We need the press to shine a light on the journey ahead, its milestones, roadblocks, and successes. Let\u2019s partner to rebuild Baro, for commerce, for jobs, and for Nigeria,\u201d he urged.<\/div>\n
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He commended members for their dedication and announced the formation of a technical sub-committee to provide expert input. The committee also adopted its comprehensive work plan during the meeting.<\/div>\n
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Several members emphasized the need for collaborative efforts and regional integration to position the port as a strategic gateway attractive to global shipping operators.<\/div>\n
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Former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, a member of the committee, emphasized the broader regional potential of Baro.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is far more than a Niger State concern. We must convey its transnational significance. Baro was originally envisioned to serve the greater West and North African sub-region,\u201d Wase said.<\/div>\n
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He called for a narrative shift that presents Baro as a national and regional trade enabler.<\/div>\n
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Hon. Leke Abejide, Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and also a committee member, expressed concerns over the lack of incentives for international shipping lines, a key factor that has hindered similar projects such as Warri and Calabar ports.<\/div>\n
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\u201cShipping lines need a reason to come. Calabar and Warri failed because they didn\u2019t offer incentives. Lagos succeeded because it secured an anchor client,\u201d Abejide said.<\/div>\n
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He highlighted the Lagos Free Trade Zone as a case study, noting how the attraction of a major global shipping line created momentum and boosted traffic.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAll it takes is one major player. Once you bring in one, others will follow. Lagos got that right; others didn\u2019t,\u201d he concluded.<\/div>\n
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