Reps panel summons Oyetola, NIWA MD over Baro port project in Niger state, says it’s a scandal

A house of representatives panel has summoned Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy, and Munirudeen Oyebamiji, managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), over the Baro Port project in Niger state. 

Saidu Abdullahi, chairman of the ad hoc committee on the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the Baro inland port, announced the summons during the panel’s sitting on Tuesday.

The minister and Oyebamiji are expected to appear before the committee with documents detailing the expenditure on the project so far.

“We need everything: the full contract files, evaluation reports, evidence of what was done and what was not done,” Saidu said.

“We are asking for all relevant documents as far as the Baro port is concerned. We are not here to fight anybody. This committee is very serious about our job. The managing director and the minister are summoned to appear.

“The matter has been referred to this committee, and we are going to do our work thoroughly. We want to know how much was paid to the contractor.

“We want the financial breakdown. Let’s stop playing games. Somebody must take responsibility for what is a scandal.

“This is a very serious matter. We cannot allow a project that has gulped several billions of naira to go to waste. This house will not accept it.

“We have a responsibility to the Nigerian people to ensure that this kind of waste does not continue unchecked.”

The committee members took turns to express reservations over the project.

Agbahe Fidelis, NIWA’s general manager for environmental services, who represented the managing director, said the project remains non-functional due to limited access roads, silted waterways, vandalised rail infrastructure, inadequate dredging, and security challenges, among other factors.

Inaugurated in 2019, the port remains largely inoperable more than five years later.