By SOLA AYANWOLA
The journey towards the realization of a functional Baro port has lingered for so long with different administrations of Federal Government, promising to make it operational, a prayer, yet unanswered.
It has now become a source of worry for stakeholders in Niger State, especially from the Niger South Senatorial District which is hosting the port.
Although, Baro port was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari prior to 2019 general election, it is yet to be in operation because of absence of critical facilities like the access Roads and a functional Rail system designed for conducive operation and take- off of the port.
Disturbed by the state of affairs involving the multi- billion naira project 4years after commissioning , the Executive Chairman of Agaie Local Government Area, Hon.Ibrahim Sayuti Halilu , passionately appeals to the incoming administration both at the State and Federal Government to porioritize the completion of all the neccessary components of Baro port in order to make it operational.
Hon Sayuti during a chat with Achievers Magazine described Baro port as a gaint project loaded with alot of economic potentials that has the capacity to transform Niger State and the entire Northern Nigeria to an economic haven , if fully exploited.
To this effect , he says there was a need for incoming administration in Niger State under the Leadership of Rt. Hon. Umar Bago to porioritize the actualization of a functional Baro port in order to open up the state economy for desirable development.
It would be recalled that Baro port while in operation in the 70s played host to different Multinational Companies like UAC and others which provided a fountain of employment opportunities, “a golden era we are expecting to return back to Niger State,” .Hon. Sayuti declared.
The chairman of Agaie Local Government Area further told Achievers Magazine that Baro port is also blessed with the best tourist attraction in Nigeria called the ” Umpire Hill.”
According to the him , Niger State Government have written to the Presidency on the need to build the Presidential Lodge at Baro Umpire Hill.
Hon Sayuti said “Umpire Hill”is where the colonial masters resided and it will attract alot of tourist within and outside the country because it is a flat Land in Hectares full of wonders.
Undoubtedly, Hon. Sayuti believes that a functional Baro port is the key towards the Economic development of Niger State and the entire Northern Nigeria.
However, how viable could Baro port be, with the acute depth limitation, allegedly levelled against it by the former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi during a live Television programme.
The then Minister of Transportation was alleged to have decried the award of a contract for the rehabilitation of Baro port because of the acute depth limitation of River Niger .
Responding the Area Manager of National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) , Mr Akapo Ajiboye described the Statement credited to the former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi as politically motivated, saying that the then Minister of Transportation has personal Interest on Nigeria Shippers Council and NIMASA possibly because they bring in more money for him than the National Inland Waterways Authority
The Area Manager of NIWA told Achievers Magazine that on the issue of Acute depth limitation of River Niger , the former Minister was just being deceptive.
According to him, I was part of the Dredging team of River Niger from JEBBA to AGENEBODE and BRASS in Bayelsa State.
The dredging of River Niger is upto 30ft along the designed Route for the Cargo Ships or Barges. Therefore, the issue of Baro port can not be viable because of acute depth limitation of River Niger is null and viod. Ajiboye declared.
The Area Manager of NIWA said the present Minister of Transportstion understands the importance of developing River transportation that is the reason why Onitsha port played host to heavy Cargoes with containers this year and very soon NIWA was planing on how cargo Ship will carry Containers from Lagos down to Jebba in order to tell the whole world that River Niger is viable to make Baro port operational.