Federal Government Reiterates Commitment to Baro River Port Development

The Federal Government has reasserted its dedication to transforming the Baro River Port in Niger State into a thriving inland gateway. Despite operational constraints since its commissioning in 2019, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, outlined concrete steps to overcome the challenges and unlock the port's full economic potential. These measures include improving river navigability, developing road and rail connections, and attracting private sector operators through concessions and partnerships.

Key Takeaways:

• The Baro River Port, commissioned in 2019, has been struggling to operate at capacity due to gaps in supporting infrastructure and navigability.
• The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has inherited the port from the previous administration and plans to conduct extensive dredging to improve navigability.
• The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) aims to dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways to ensure the port maintains the necessary depth for year-round operations.
• The Federal Government is working with the Federal Ministries of Works and Transportation to deliver an integrated framework that combines infrastructure, operational efficiency, and private sector participation.
• Baro Port is strategically positioned to link agricultural value chains and serve as a feeder to Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri ports.
• The port has the potential to significantly boost Nigeria's trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and alleviate pressure on the nation's highways.

Statistics:

• The Baro River Port was commissioned in 2019.
• The port requires extensive dredging to improve navigability.
• NIWA plans to dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways.
• The project to develop the Baro Port was awarded at a cost of ₦3.56 billion.
• ₦3.35 billion, representing 94 percent of the project cost, has already been paid to the contractor.
• Funding remains a major hurdle in completing the rail line to connect Baro Port with the rest of the country.

Sources:

• "Baro River Port: FG reiterates commitment to revamp operations" - The Punch (no date)
• "FG, NIWA, others deliberate on challenges of Baro River Port" - News Agency of Nigeria (no date)
• "Baro Port: FG Working On Integrated Framework For Effective Utilisation" - Leadership Newspaper (no date)
• "Baro Port: NIWA Begins Dredging, Seeks Funds For Other Projects" - Vanguard News (no date)