Baro Inland Port: Reps Takes Step to Restore Neglected

By Gloria Ikibah

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In an effort to rejuvenate Nigeria’s inland waterway systems, the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of the Baro Inland Port convened its inaugural session.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. Saidu Abdullahi, at its meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja, presented an ambitious agenda aimed at converting years of stalled progress into measurable outcomes.

Rep. Abdullahi underscored the urgency of shifting from mere discussions to decisive actions that will reactivate Baro Port in Niger State. He highlighted the port’s potential to reclaim its place as a critical hub within Nigeria’s transportation and economic framework.

“This committee is tasked with converting the endless talk over the years into real action. Baro Inland Port is a sleeping giant, and our job is to wake it,” he said.

Rep. Abdullahi reflected on the significant legacy of the Baro Inland Port, which functioned as a key logistics center during the colonial period. At that time, agricultural goods from northern Nigeria moved efficiently through a coordinated multimodal network—transported by rail to Baro and onward by inland waterways to coastal ports.

He observed that, after independence, the country’s emphasis on oil revenue and road development caused a steep decline in investment in inland waterways. According to him, this prolonged neglect has carried economic costs and undermined both environmental sustainability and the lifespan of road infrastructure.

To illustrate the possibilities for inland ports, Hon. Abdullahi cited global examples. He described a recent visit to China’s Yangtze River Port, which extends over 6,100 kilometers and sustains dynamic commercial operations. He also pointed to the Mississippi River Port network in the United States, spanning more than 12,000 miles and facilitating trade across 31 states.

“These examples are proof that inland waterways can be the backbone of national logistics. If countries like China and the U.S. have built prosperity around such systems, Nigeria too must rise to the occasion,” he said.

According to the Committee Chairman, three major components currently preventing the Baro Inland Port from becoming operational are, the dredging of the capital channel, ensuring navigability for vessels along the river; rail connectivity between Baro and Minna, linking the port to the larger national rail grid; and access roads to the port, providing viable land routes for cargo movement.

“All necessary operational equipment has already been procured by the federal government. What remains is to fix these three key issues so the port can start functioning as designed,” he added.

The committee’s role, he explained, is to coordinate relevant stakeholders, diagnose the roadblocks, and engineer collaborative solutions that will make the port viable again.

In addressing the broader question of infrastructure financing, Rep. Abdullahi stressed that Nigeria cannot rely solely on public funds, and that government alone cannot carry that burden.

“The reality is that we must explore innovative financing and private-sector partnerships. If we continue waiting for government budgets alone, we won’t achieve even half of what’s needed,” he argued.

He advocated for exploring investment windows, development finance institutions, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to help revive infrastructure like the Baro Port and others.

Rep. Abdullahi expressed confidence that the committee’s work will not only revamp the Baro Port but also serve as a national model for how to successfully plan and execute infrastructure revival.

“With the quality and diversity of members drawn from all six geopolitical zones, this committee is well-equipped to deliver. What we build here can become a reference point for future projects across Nigeria,” he said.

He called on the media to play a key role in amplifying the conversation and holding all parties accountable throughout the process.

“This is serious work. We’ll be depending on you to give this assignment the visibility it deserves. Let’s revive Baro together, for commerce, for communities, and for the country,” he said.

Rep. Abdullahi, said the committee will roll out a comprehensive engagement plan with the help of a technical committee in achieving their mandate.

The work-plan of the Committee was adopted at the meeting.

Members emphasised the need for regional alignment and strategic planning, particularly around attracting global shipping lines, to ensure the success of the long-abandoned facility.

Former Deputy Speaker, Rep. Idris Wase, one of the committee members, noted the importance of understanding the full scope of the project and its regional significance.

“This project is not just for Niger State; we’re speaking as representatives of Nigeria. When discussing the Baro Port, it’s important to be clear that it’s not just for Niger or even Nigeria. The project has the potential to serve the wider Northern African sub-region. That’s the original conception behind it,” he said.

He urged members and consultants to frame the project in national terms during engagements.

“When presenting to this parliament, we must speak as Nigerians, not locals. I know it’s easy to get carried away by enthusiasm, but let’s not water down the national significance of this discussion,” he said.

Another member of the Committee and Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Rep. Leke Abejide, raised a technical but critical concern over the lack of incentives for major shipping lines, which has caused similar ports across Nigeria to fail.

“We’ve seen this happen with other ports, Calabar, Warri. They failed because planners didn’t factor in incentives for shipping lines. No port can thrive if shipping companies don’t see value in using it,” he said.

He pointed to global examples and success stories like the Lagos Free Trade Zone, which secured operations from one of the world’s major shipping lines. That move, he explained, created a ripple effect, forcing other lines to compete and increasing traffic at the port.

“You don’t need to attract everyone at once. Target one major shipping lines and let them drive initial operations. Others will follow. That’s what was done in Lagos, and it worked. It wasn’t done in Calabar, and the result is what we see today”, he stated.