… To meet President Buhari on the need early completion
By Haruna Salami
The Senate has mandated its committee on Marine transport, public procurement and works to investigate activities of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in respect of the Baro Port in Niger state.
It therefore urged the committee to make adequate recommendations to the federal government to make funds available to contractors handling the project for final completion.
The resolution followed a motion by Senator Bima Enagi, Niger South and co-sponsored by 22 other senators on yesterday.
The upper legislative chamber also urged the federal government to facilitate the rehabilitation of the narrow gauge railway in Baro to ensure the rapid socio-economic growth of Nigeria.
It resolved among others that the federal government should transfer the roads project to Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, PIDF for better funding and execution.
The Senate specifically wants continuous dredging and maintenance of Rivers Niger and Benue by NIWA to ensure its navigability all year round.
Senator Enagi bemoaned that funding of the access roads had been grossly inadequate, stressing that N670million and N4.5billion has so far been released for the project out of contract sum of N17billion and N33billion respectively.
He said “over N40billion has so far been expended on the various components of the Baro Port without achieving any significant progress towards utilization of the port”.
Enagi however expressed worry that such a laudable project with all its potential benefits would be neglected.
He maintained that “Baro port project is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs as well as improve our road network by keeping heavy duty trailers and trucks off the roads thereby expanding the life span of the roads”
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the motion, Senator Enagi said “we have a committee that normally follow up on legislative motions, we expect the committee to take up the matter with relevant bodies of the executive.
“In addition to that, one of the prayers that was added in my motion was for the Senate President and the leadership of the Senate to meet with Mr. President and let Mr. President know the importance of this motion and the urgency that should be attached to the completion of the Baro port”, he added.