By Amofokhai Williams
In a fiery call to action, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has unveiled an ambitious plan to curb the state’s alarming boat mishaps through a groundbreaking partnership with Lagos State, while championing the revival of the Baro Inland Port as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic resurgence.
The governor’s vision, shared during a high-profile meeting with a House of Representatives delegation, underscores his administration’s commitment to transforming Niger State’s waterways and infrastructure.
The Alarmee reports that Bago didn’t mince words, labeling the frequent boat accidents in Niger State’s riverine communities as “alarming” and a pressing threat to lives and livelihoods.
Speaking at the Government House in Minna, he proposed a strategic collaboration with Lagos State, renowned for its advanced water resource management, to tackle the crisis.
“We can’t keep losing lives to preventable mishaps,” Bago declared, emphasizing the urgent need for expertise-sharing to enhance safety protocols.
Recent reports indicate that Niger State has already deployed eight fibre boats and 3,700 life jackets in collaboration with the Federal Government, saving lives in recent incidents.
Bago also made a bold pitch for a National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) office in Minna, arguing it would streamline enforcement of safety measures like life jacket usage and bans on night travel and overloading.
“A local NIWA presence will change the game,” he insisted, aligning his plea with President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide push to address boat mishaps.
The governor’s meeting with the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalization of Baro Inland Port turned the spotlight on the long-dormant port, which Bago hailed as a “gateway to Nigeria’s economy.”
The committee, led by Hon. Saidu Musa Abdul of Bida/Gbako/Katcha, was on a fact-finding mission to assess the port’s condition.
Bago revealed ongoing efforts to revive it, including collaboration with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to complete the critical Katcha-Baro road and plans with the Nigeria Railway Corporation to reactivate the Baro-Minna rail line.
“This port is a Nigerian project, and we’re bringing it back to life,” he vowed.
Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, former Deputy Speaker and delegation leader, praised Bago’s “immense support” for the port’s revival, noting its potential to ease road traffic and boost trade. X users echoed the excitement, with one posting, “Baro Port’s comeback could transform Niger State’s economy!”
Bago tied his initiatives to President Tinubu’s broader mission to address Nigeria’s infrastructural deficits, urging parliamentarians to bolster these efforts through robust oversight.
“The President is setting the pace, and we must match it,” he said, commending Tinubu’s directive for NIWA to investigate boat mishaps nationwide.
