More than 11 years after the contract for the 53 kilometres Agaie-Katcha-Baro road in Niger State as a component of the Baro Inland Port project was awarded, non release of funds has continued to stall its progress and dim the hope of putting the multi-million naira project commissioned almost two years ago into use.
Every hope to get the Baro Inland Port in Niger State working seems to be gradually fading, emerging facts indicate. It was observed that between November 2019 when Daily Trust focused on the state of the 53-kilometre road till today, not even a kilometre has been added to the surface dressing, which was earlier done from the Agaie section.
Daily Trust on Sunday learnt that works on the road, which is central to the take-off of the port, was stalled due to non-release of funds to the contractor handling the project. The multi-million naira port was commissioned in January 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari, amidst fanfare during the last leg of his second term campaign.
The port, which was constructed by a Chinese firm, CGCC Project Limited at the cost of N5.8 billion, boasts of a quarry length of 150 metres, cargo stacking yard of 7,000 square metres, a transit shed of 3,600 square metres and an estimated capacity of 5,000 TEU at a time. It is also equipped with facilities such as water hydrant system, water treatment plant, tree forklift of various tonnages and powered by a 100 KVA generating set. It is expected to provide 2,000 and 2,500 indirect jobs.
However, almost two years after its commissioning, the port is yet to commence operation, with locals saying that activities are still dormant around the facility.
The managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr George Moghalu, had in interview with journalists in August, blamed non- completion of the major access road linking the port to Agaie Local Government for the delay in its take-off.
Captain Hassan Mohammed (retd), an indigene of the community and chairman of Agaie Local Government Area, said it was disturbing that work on the all- important project had not progressed from the state it was for more than a year. He asked whether there was provision for the project in the 2020 budget. He said he was surprised that the contractors were not moblised to site after the lockdown over the outbreak of COVID-19 was lifted.
He also queried the sum of N 600 million allocated for the project in the 2021 budget proposal, saying the amount ‘merger’ shows that the project may linger for a long time. He added that the gesture further dimmed the hope of getting the port working.
According to him, the hope of getting the road project to an appreciable level during next year would depend on the magnanimity of the lawmakers in the National Assembly, who may be prevailed upon to increase budget provision for the job. However, this would depend on the amount of lobbying by lawmakers from the state in both chambers.
Daily Trust on Sunday recalls that the construction of the link roads and rail line was among the components of the larger works on the port project. It was learnt that there were two major access roads to the ancient community – Baro-Katcha-Agaie and Baro-Muye, linking Lapai – which were both in deplorable conditions. Out of the two, the Federal Government had awarded the contract for the Baro-Katcha-Agaie axis in 2009, re-awarded in 2012 and 2015 respectively over an alleged failure on the part of the contractor to deliver the job on time.
It was learnt that the 2015 effort came close to the general elections and was re-awarded to an Indian firm at the cost of N17.5 billion with a 12-month completion period. However, although the contractor was seen at the site, nothing happened as the funds meant for the project was never released.
Captain Hassan noted that the project became a political tool in the hands of politicians, adding that the money meant for the projects was diverted to prosecuting the general elections.
The contractor returned to site after an initial release of funds by the Buhari administration, but the progress has been quite slow due to government’s failure to advance additional funds for the project.
Worried by the development, stakeholders from the state, led by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, had late last year visited the president, where they prevailed on him to urgently intervene by hastening the completion of the Baro-Katcha-Agaie and other federal roads that are in deplorable condition.
When the attempt failed to yield the intended result, the senator representing Niger south, Mohammed Bima, where the project was located, and other concerned lawmakers, sponsored a motion on the urgent need to complete the rail and road components of the project.
During plenary, the Senate mandated its Committee on Marine Transport, Works and Public Procurement to probe the NIWA over the abandoned project. It urged the Federal Government to make funds available to the contractors handling the project to ensure its speedy completion.
Apart from this, the Senate called on the Federal Government to transfer the road project to the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund for better funding and execution. Similarly, the upper chamber advised the Federal Government to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Narrow Gauge Railway in Baro to boost the country’s economy. It also called for continuous dredging and maintenance of the River Niger and River Benue by NIWA to ensure their navigability.
Bima also led a delegation of state assembly lawmakers and chairmen from the state on an inspection visit to the port and the link roads, where he described the situation as ‘disheartening’ and ‘frustrating’. Bima said when the port was commissioned in 2019, people thought operations were going to start immediately, and they were very excited.
“Apparently, the jubilation was because of the projected economic boost its operation would engender in Niger south, northern Nigeria and Nigeria in general.
The components that are delaying the full take-off of this project are mainly the road, the rail and the maintenance dredging.
This is something that can be done, even in one year. It is not rocket science; it is something that can be done easily,” he said.
However, contrary to his expectations and that of other stakeholders, the project has dragged on for 14 years since it was started and almost two years after the completion of the port itself.
Locals told our reporter that the contractors are off site and had moved their machineries to the company’s yard along Agaie-Katcha road. It was observed from Shabawoshi village where the 10-kilometre effort ended, key bridges have been constructed across gullies and streams, while the stretch of the road was graded up to Katcha-Baro junction.
However, it was observed that the road from Baro to Katcha town, the headquarters of Katcha Local Government Area, is hardly motorable. Locals said the 22-kilometre section had remained a travellers’ nightmare.
Like the Baro/Katcha/Agaie axis, the Baro/Muye/Gegu section is also strategic as it links the port to the southern part of the country. Like the former, the latter is equally in a deplorable condition and desperately needs intervention.
But, NIMA through the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Malam Jibril Darda’u said the agency’s is exploring other options with a view to accelerating the road project.
He noted that Dr George Moghalu, the managing director is reaching out to the host state government of Niger with the intention of persuading it to collaborate with the federal government on the matter.
According to him, the agency is working on a kilometer portion of the road linking Ebbo to Baro which was earlier damaged by flood.
He said the port facilities are intact despite been in place for about two years, even as he noted that some of the agency’s staff are on ground and doing administrative duties in Baro, adding that its maintaining police presence in the community.
Speaking on the importance of the road, the Etsu Agaie, Alhaji Muhammadu Yusuf Nuhu said, “That is the only access road for the haulage of goods from the port at Baro to the hinterland, and from Baro to ports in Lagos, Port-Harcourt, and vice versa.”
He also spoke of the strategic importance of the port to the North and Nigeria in Nigeria.
He recalled the role the port played during the colonial era in Nigeria. “Baro used to be boisterous in the past, when ships would be transported to the hinterland. The port was used to transport groundnut, cotton and some other goods from the North,” he said.
Before the new initiative was conceived, Baro had become a relic of its past glory. The infrastructure that heralded that era had deteriorated and withered away, and there was no conscious effort to put new ones in place despite its tourism and economic potential.
There is also no electricity and potable water. The major signs of civilisation are the colonial relics that dot the town. The Empire Hill was strategic to Lugard. It was on the hill that Lugard built his residence. The hill still keeps watch on the ancient town, decades on.
Lugard’s residence is also standing due to its maintenance overtime. So also is the administrative building, which serves as the headquarters of the colonial administration. Some of the colonial houses have also weathered the storm. For instance, the St Paul Anglican Church, where the colonialists worshiped, is still erect. Also standing is the old warehouse, which served the purpose of international companies, such as John Holt and UAC.
There are also reminders of the railway segment of the development of Baro, such as its loading bay platform, offices and the rail line, which still exist till today.
Many hope that such relics, which are of historical significance, should attract tourists to the ancient community.
Economic activities in the community have also been reduced to fishing and farming. In its centre is a weekly market that plays host to herders, community members and people of neighbouring villages. Water transportation also exists on a nearby river.
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