By Abbas Nazil
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has denied awarding any multibillion-naira contract for the Baro Inland Port project in Niger State.
This denial came in response to public claims and an ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee into the status and funding of the inland port.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the minister clarified that no new contracts have been initiated or awarded under the current administration regarding the Baro Port.
He emphasized that the project was neither conceptualized nor launched by the current government.
According to Akinola, the Baro Inland Port project was conceived, planned, and initiated under previous administrations and has not received any contract award from Oyetola since he assumed office.
He described the recent allegations as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of the Baro Inland Port had earlier summoned both Oyetola and the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji, to appear before it in Abuja.
The committee, led by Chairman Saidu Abdullahi, demanded that the minister and NIWA submit all relevant documents within seven days.
These documents include contract agreements, payment records, project scope, inspection reports, photographs, and any official correspondence related to the commissioning and current status of the port.
The committee’s inquiry aims to determine the extent of work done at the port, evaluate financial disbursements, and understand whether the port was ever declared fully operational.
In reaction to the summons and public speculation, the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy reiterated that Oyetola has neither issued contracts nor approved financial commitments for Baro Port.
The ministry stated that the administration is focused on assessing existing maritime infrastructure and formulating a roadmap for sustainable development, rather than revisiting or duplicating previously executed plans.
The Baro Inland Port, located in Niger State, was officially commissioned in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The project was hailed as a solution to decongest seaports and promote inland water transportation.
However, the facility has remained largely non-functional since its commissioning.
One of the major challenges has been the lack of critical connecting infrastructure, particularly road and rail links, which are necessary for the port to operate effectively.
Oyetola’s spokesperson emphasized that the port still holds national importance, but the ministry is more concerned with determining what is already in place and what is needed to make the port viable.
The ministry aims to build on what has already been done and avoid redundant expenditures on previously planned or incomplete infrastructure.
