By Kenneth Jukpor
The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Senator Mamora Olorunnimbe has projected that the Baro river port would usher in massive economic benefits for Niger State and the nation at large.
Mamora who was speaking to MMS Plus during an exclusive chat ahead of the commissioning of Baro port in Niger State by President Mohammadu Buhari on Saturday January 19th, 2019.
“Baro Port has huge economic benefits for the host community, Niger State and the nation at large. The movement of goods, passengers and services would be enhanced with this facility. Don’t forget that the port has been in existence since the pre-colonial days. What has been done now is to modernize it and make it in conformity to the standards of a modern river port” he said.
Highlighting other potentials of the N6 billion project built by Chinese firm (CGCC Global Project Nigeria Limited), Mamora said the Baro port would provide massive employment opportunities for youths in the Niger State and reduce the problem of youth restiveness.
“The port would improve the movement of goods and people from the Northern to the Southern part of the country. It can also serve as a port of transshipment for goods coming from other countries. It would improve trade interaction between the Northern part of the country and the Southern part and the multiplier effect would be massive” he added.
Baro port is equipped with a Mobile Harbour Crane, Transit shed, Administrative block, fire hydrant system, water treatment plant, Reach stacker, 100KVA power generating set, and three numbers forklifts of various tonnages.
It is one of the River Ports built to support the dredging of Lower River Niger project. Onitsha River Port has already been rehabilitated while Oguta and Lokoja River Ports are nearing completion.
The Baro river port is expected to create at least two thousand direct jobs and hundreds of thousands indirect jobs. It will help keep off the road several heavy duty trailers and trucks, thereby extending the life span of Nigerian roads.
