Baro Port: A Billion-Naira Dream Turned into a Nightmare

By NIGPOST Newsroom

Six years after its grand commissioning, the multi-billion-naira Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State remains abandoned, leaving the community in despair.

Once seen as a game-changer for the economy of northern Nigeria, the project has become another symbol of government neglect.

A Project of High Hopes, Now in Ruins

Commissioned in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Baro Port was meant to ease cargo transportation, reduce pressure on roads, and boost economic activities in the region.

However, the massive facility, which cost the federal government a staggering ₦66 billion, has yet to serve its purpose.

Residents of Baro, who lost their farmlands and fishing livelihoods due to the construction, are now left struggling.

Frustration grows as warehouses, administrative buildings, and key port facilities rot away, with no sign of operations beginning anytime soon.

Budget Cuts and Neglect

Despite its potential, the port remains inaccessible due to the absence of a proper access road and shallow water levels that make it impossible for ships to dock.

According to Hon. Jibril Ndagi Akwanu, a former Niger State lawmaker, recent budgetary allocations have completely ignored the port, further dashing hopes for its revival.

“The port is not just about Baro; it’s about the economy of the North and the entire country. Yet, the government has chosen to neglect it,” he lamented.

A Way Forward?

Experts suggest that dredging the River Niger from the Delta to Baro and utilizing flat-bottom ships could help make the port functional.

Additionally, rehabilitating the Agaie-Katcha-Baro road and revamping the rail line from Baro to Abuja could restore the project’s lost potential.

For now, Baro Port remains another failed dream, raising questions about Nigeria’s commitment to infrastructure development.

Will the government ever revive this billion-naira investment, or will it join the long list of abandoned projects?

Stay updated with NIGPOST for more investigative reports on Nigeria’s development projects.