House of Reps to Grill Oyetola, NIWA Boss

House of Reps to Grill Oyetola, NIWA Boss Over Abandoned Baro Inland Port Project

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the multi-billion-naira Baro Inland Port project issued stern summonses to Marine and Blue Economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Managing Director Bola Oyebamiji.

 

The Lawmakers described the situation as “glaring anomalies and wasted public funds” tied to the abandoned project.

 

Committee Chairman, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, who led a heated session on Tuesday at the National Assembly, characterized the situation as a “national scandal” and insisted that key officials must appear before the panel to account for the expended funds.

 

“We are not here to fight anybody. But let’s stop playing games — somebody must take responsibility for what is clearly a scandal,” Abdullahi declared. “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.”

 

He further directed NIWA and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to submit complete documentation on the project within seven days. This includes contracts, payment records, inspection reports, photographs, and any official communication that proves the port was ever functional.

 

“We need everything — full contract files, evaluation reports, evidence of what was done and what was not done. We want the financial breakdown,” Abdullahi demanded, stressing that the committee is determined to uncover the truth behind the non-operational status of a port supposedly completed and commissioned.

 

Lawmakers expressed outrage over conflicting accounts of the port’s status, noting that despite former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurating it in 2019, no evidence of cargo movement or road access to the facility exists.

 

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

 

The committee dismissed claims of political targeting, asserting that the investigation roots in accountability and public interest.

 

“This is not about witch-hunt. It’s about accountability. The people deserve to know what happened to their money,” one lawmaker added.

 

Defending NIWA’s role, General Manager of Ports and Environmental Services, Engr. Agbahe Fidelis, who spoke on behalf of the NIWA Managing Director, admitted that the port remains idle due to a mix of access challenges, waterway siltation, vandalized railway infrastructure, and insecurity — despite its physical completion.

 

However, the committee remained unimpressed, noting that the facility’s continued non-use negates its core purpose — to decongest the nation’s overburdened seaports and promote inland water transportation.

 

The committee resolved to conduct a follow-up visit to the Baro Inland Port for an independent assessment of its condition and viability. It also warned that agencies like the Federal Ministry of Works and the Nigeria Railway Corporation, which failed to appear at the session, must be present at the next hearing.

 

The lawmakers reiterated that billions have been sunk into the project without commensurate value, a reality they described as both “unacceptable and indefensible.”