FG Denies Awarding Any Contract for Baro Port Project

The Federal Government has firmly denied reports that a new contract was awarded for the Baro Inland Port project. The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy made it clear that no such contract has been issued under the leadership of Minister Adegboyega Oyetola, labeling the claims as entirely false and misleading.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, explained that the Baro Port project is not a new initiative. He noted that the project began under previous administrations and not during Oyetola’s tenure.

Akinola stated that suggestions of a multibillion-naira contract being awarded by Oyetola are inaccurate. He added that the Baro Port, located in Niger State, was commissioned back in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, but the port has remained mostly inactive due to poor infrastructure like bad roads and a lack of rail access.

According to Akinola, the current administration is not focused on awarding new contracts but rather on evaluating existing infrastructure and planning for future development. He stressed that duplicating past efforts is not part of the ministry’s agenda.

There were also recent claims that Minister Oyetola had been summoned by the National Assembly over the matter. However, Akinola clarified that the minister was only invited to take part in a stakeholders’ engagement session organized by an ad-hoc committee on the Baro Port project.

He said the session was part of the ministry’s commitment to dialogue and development. The ministry was officially represented at the event, showing its readiness to collaborate with other arms of government.

Akinola emphasized the importance of public accountability and responsible media reporting. He urged Nigerians to fact-check information before spreading it, especially when it concerns national projects.

He concluded by reaffirming the minister’s dedication to growing Nigeria’s marine and inland waterway sectors in a transparent and sustainable way.