The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of Baro Inland Port has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the poor quality of work carried out at the multi-billion-naira facility.
During an oversight visit to Niger State, the committee, led by Rep. Idris Wase (APC–Plateau), described the port as a “white elephant project” that was hurriedly commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 without being made operational.
Speaking after inspecting the project, Wase said:
“What we saw is a project that was merely commissioned on paper.
It is unfortunate what has happened in the past, but as leaders we must take responsibility to change the narrative.”
He stressed that the Baro Port was originally designed to serve as a major trade gateway for Northern Nigeria, with the capacity to decongest seaports, reduce pressure on highways, and stimulate regional commerce.
Its neglect, he argued, reflects the broader infrastructure deficit facing Nigeria.
The committee assured that it would work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and other stakeholders to ensure the completion and full functionality of the port.
Rep. Saidu Abdullahi, Chairman of the committee, raised concerns about the deplorable road network leading to the facility, which has left the port largely idle since its commissioning.
“A trip that should ordinarily take 30 minutes now stretches into four hours because of failed road portions.
Without motorable access roads, the port cannot serve its intended purpose,” Abdullahi lamented.
He added that the committee would ensure government agencies responsible for roads, waterways, and transport deliver on their mandates.
The General Manager of Business Development at NIWA, Mr. Bolawale Adetola, noted that while the infrastructure for the port is largely in place, key challenges such as dredging of navigation channels and completion of access roads must be addressed.
“Everything a port needs to work is already on ground. The main setbacks are the access roads and dredging.
Once these are resolved, Baro Port will create jobs, reduce transport costs, and enhance trade,” he said.
Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State, who hosted the lawmakers, reiterated that the project was national in scope and not limited to Niger State or Northern Nigeria.
“The Baro Port was central to the Northern Trade Corridor and strategically linked to the Lagos–Kano–Jibia rail line.
Reviving this project will reduce pressure on our highways and open up new economic opportunities,” Bago said.
He applauded the lawmakers for conducting the oversight visit during recess, describing it as evidence of a renewed national commitment to infrastructure revival.
First conceptualized in colonial times, Baro Inland Port was intended to link northern markets to southern seaports through rail and inland waterways. Experts argue that once fully operational, it could:
Boost non-oil exports from the northern region.
Reduce cost of goods by providing cheaper transport alternatives.
Create thousands of jobs in logistics, trade, and agriculture.
Ease pressure on Apapa and Onne ports, which are currently overstretched.
However, decades of abandonment, lack of dredging on the River Niger, and poor access infrastructure have kept the facility idle.
Afrinvest analysts and infrastructure experts have emphasized that making Baro Port functional would require a multi-sectoral approach involving the Ministry of Works, NIWA, NRC, and private sector investors.
They note that with Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy, Baro Port could become a key driver of regional integration and industrial growth if revived.
As the committee begins its work, Nigerians are watching closely to see whether Baro Port will finally transition from a paper project to a functional economic hub.