The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, alongside the management of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to appear before its relevant committee over the continued abandonment of the multi-billion-naira Baro Inland River Port in Niger State.
The summons follows growing concerns over the non-utilization of the Baro Port years after its completion, despite huge public investment. Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction that billions of naira allocated to the project have yielded no economic activity or benefit to the nation, raising questions of accountability and project mismanagement.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, stated during Tuesday’s session that the committee will not fold its arms while critical infrastructure continues to lie idle in the face of dwindling revenue and urgent national development needs.
“It is unacceptable that such a massive investment like Baro Port remains unused, while Nigerians suffer from poor transportation logistics and underutilized waterways. We need answers from the Minister and NIWA on why this national asset has been left to rot,” Hon. Kuye said.
The lawmakers are demanding a full breakdown of the funds expended on the project, including operational, maintenance, and staffing costs, since its commissioning. They also seek to understand the long-term plans—if any—by the Ministry and NIWA to activate the port for commercial use.
Commissioned in 2019 with the goal of boosting inland waterway transport and relieving pressure on road infrastructure, Baro Port has since remained largely inactive, reportedly due to lack of access roads, absence of connecting infrastructure, and logistical challenges.
The committee hearing is scheduled for next week, during which the Minister and NIWA will be required to present project documentation, financial records, and implementation timelines.