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The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Munirudeen Oyebamiji, to appear before an investigative panel over the long-abandoned Baro Inland Port project in Niger State.
The summons, issued on Tuesday during the sitting of the House Ad Hoc Committee on the Rehabilitation and Operationalisation of the Baro Port, marks a fresh step in unraveling what lawmakers have described as a “monumental national scandal.”
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, who presided over the session, disclosed that both the Minister and the NIWA boss are to appear before the panel with a full set of project documentation including contract agreements, financial disbursement records, evaluation reports, and proofs of work done.
“This is not a witch-hunt. We are requesting every relevant document regarding the Baro Port project. The minister and the NIWA boss must come forward. Somebody must be held accountable for this national embarrassment.”
“The Nigerian people deserve to know what happened to their money. We need clarity on how much was paid to the contractor, how much work was done, and why the facility remains idle. This House will not stand by while public funds are wasted. We must ensure that accountability prevails,” Abdullahi stressed.
The Baro Port, once touted as a strategic infrastructure project meant to boost inland water transportation, has remained non-functional years after completion was announced despite reportedly gulping billions of naira in public funds.
Lawmakers expressed outrage at the situation, citing the port as a prime example of mismanaged national resources.
The Baro Port project, initiated to facilitate economic activity and ease the movement of goods in the North-Central region, has faced repeated delays and operational setbacks prompting widespread criticism and public concern.
Tuesday’s hearing signals a growing push by the National Assembly to enforce transparency and oversight across the nation’s critical infrastructure projects. The summoned officials are expected to appear before the committee at the next hearing date to defend their roles and provide explanations.
Nigerians, particularly residents of the affected communities in Niger State, will be watching closely as the House of Representatives presses forward with its investigation into the Baro Port debacle.
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