In a renewed push to strengthen Nigeria’s transport infrastructure and boost economic activities across the country, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to connect the Baro Inland Port in Niger State to the Lagos-Kano Narrow Gauge rail network.
The plan, which aims to revitalize the dormant inland port and streamline the movement of goods across Nigeria, was announced by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, during a session with the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalization of the Baro Inland Port.
Senator Alkali said the new connection would include the rehabilitation of a 190-kilometre railway stretch from Minna to Baro, which will feed into the historic Lagos-Kano line, already undergoing freight rehabilitation under the current administration.
“This rail line will be connected to the Lagos-Kano Narrow Gauge, which is being refurbished to support freight movement. Although recent flooding in Mokwa has affected rail operations, we are confident that with proper funding, we can restore and complete this link,” the minister told the lawmakers at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader strategy to transform Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure and reduce over-reliance on road transport. A fully functioning Baro Port, linked to a national rail network, is expected to play a key role in easing cargo movement from seaports to inland regions and neighbouring countries.
Though the Baro Inland Port is now under the management of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and supervised by the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Senator Alkali emphasized that the Ministry of Transportation would play a central role in rebuilding the railway connection to the port.
The minister appealed to the National Assembly for adequate funding to support the rehabilitation effort, adding that the completion of this link would not only improve cargo flow but also enhance economic activities in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
Baro Port, once seen as a major gateway for trade through the River Niger, has suffered years of neglect and underdevelopment despite being commissioned in 2019. Poor infrastructure—especially the lack of rail and road connectivity—has rendered it largely idle.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, stressed the urgent need to translate proposals into tangible action. He identified three key challenges preventing Baro Port from becoming operational: the need to dredge the River Niger capital channel to ensure it remains navigable year-round, the completion of the Minna-Baro rail link, and the construction of access roads for trucks and cargo movement.
“We need to be practical and solution-driven. The government’s resources alone cannot do everything. This is why we must look at public-private partnerships and consider involving development finance institutions to raise funds and share the risks,” Hon. Abdullahi stated.
He pointed out that innovative financing will be essential to fully revive Baro Port, especially given the rising costs of infrastructure projects nationwide. The Committee, he said, would engage stakeholders across ministries, development partners, and the private sector to create a sustainable model for the port’s operation.
A civil engineer familiar with the project, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “If they can successfully link Baro to Lagos by rail, it would change the game for Northern Nigeria. It would reduce travel time for goods, lower logistics costs, and help farmers and traders move products faster.”
However, the project’s success depends heavily on timely funding, government commitment, and cooperation between agencies. Previous attempts to operationalize Baro Port have been stalled by bureaucracy, political distractions, and lack of maintenance of surrounding infrastructure.
Under the current plan, the Federal Ministry of Transportation will focus on delivering the rail connection, while the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, along with NIWA, will oversee the waterway and port components.
Lawmakers at the meeting pledged to push for increased budgetary allocations for the project and to hold relevant agencies accountable for results.
“The Baro Port must not be another abandoned project,” said Hon. Abdullahi. “We owe it to the people of Niger State and the entire country to make this port work. It holds the potential to become a major trade and logistics hub in West Africa.”
