Baro Inland Port And Bago Administration- Whither Way?

By Tajudeen A Tijjani.

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: There should be no any excuse this year from the Federal Government on the Baro Inland Port in Niger state, which has been abandoned, after huge amount of public money was sunk into the project.

Government at the center began the project few years ago, aimed at navigating the Baro River from Lagos to Benin and to Lokoja and dragged to join Baro River in Niger State, as a way of solving the problems of imported light goods, coming to the North.

This important project have been neglected by past goverment, especially by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and no reason was advanced, despite the monetary allocations in the budget during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The importance of the Baro Port cannot be ignored, as those who thought it well of the benefits of the seaport to the economy of the country in general, and the need to speed up the completion in this year budget, or a special allocations by the Federal Government.

Expert on Port administration are concerned about the delay in completing the project, which they said had the potential of turning around the nation economy, if early completed and put into use. They lamented that a government can abandoned such a project that will be of benefit and added advantage to the development of our ports.

They called on the President to address the issue very quickly and order the final completion of whatever remains that has created a wedge to completion of Baro Sea Port, adding that the project will reduce unemployment and also the menace of insecurities –

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This important project have been neglected by past gover, it will also added to the current administration notable strides, and address various challenges facing the nation.

With the activities of the state government to solve the myriad of problems in Niger State, the Federal should encourage Governor Muhammadu Bago, and support his resolute to develop the Power State. The public perception of the man has been commendable, and require the full support of the Federal Government to pursue the goals.

The farmer governor was the first among the others to purchased hundreds of farm tractors which have been distributed to farmers and farmer’s organisations across the state to farm on acres of land. According to reports, the aggressive farming Innovation have started to yeild good and impressive results.

Despite reported insecurity in the state, which has been given the state government serious concern, , governor Bago has involved all the security agencies in the state and working hard to nib in the bud, the menace, which is becoming a monster, needed to be tamed by all people who love the state.

Othe areas of concern which the state government has placed priority, are the dilapidated roads across the state which has created unfortunate road accidents in the past and claimed many lives. Today, some of the roads are completed, and many are on going in the roads rehabilitation of the present state government.

Other areas of important, which Bago administration should vigorously pursue is the issue of unemployment, and the government can make a headway, when it involved the Federal Government to come to its aid on how Baddegi Rice Mill, Bacita Sugar Company, and other abandoned industries can come back alive.

Some of the industries are beyond what the state government alone can do, hence, the reason, why it should go cap in hand and cry to the center for assistance.

Governor Bago can also look into the possibility of privatisation and commercialisation of all goverment agriculture value chain assets in the state, and invite experts to contribute on the impact of such ideas, and proffer what the state stands to benefit.

Now that majority of the people in the state are commending Governor Muhammadu Bago over his blueprint for the state which has touched other areas, such as education, health and other infrastructures, towards accelerating the development of the entire state, he should not relent.

Finally, with reports of assorted crimes occuring almost daily in the state capital, mostly due to joblessness, it has become imperative for the government to become more aggressive, and come together with other stakeholders and safe the situation.

With the proximity of the state capital to the seat of the Federal Government in Abuja , Niger State should be accorded priority in some areas of development and industrialization. It will not be out of place, for the Federal Government to build a Satellite town in Suleja, to reduce the concentration of people in Abuja alone.
There is wisdom in the Federal Government collaboration with the Niger State Government in all its activities, considering the size of the state in land, which are good for agriculture.

This, the writer had done, with due sense of humility, fairness and concern, bring to your attention, your Excellency.