From Tunde Bolaji, Minna
Concerned by the huge investment on the dredging of River, Niger and the expectant returns, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has called on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate take-off of the Baro in-land port.
Governor Sani Bello who made the call yesterday after an assessment visit to the port cautioned that further delay in operating the port might be counter-productive.
His words, “I am impressed by the level of work done on this port. I learnt the dredging of Baro to Lokoja has been completed and the construction work on the port at almost 98 per cent completion, all we need now is to expedite action and put this critical and strategic in-land port to use.
“We cannot allow further delay in putting this facility into use. The huge investment and the expected returns in dredging River Niger and the construction of the port should be optimally harnessed in the face of the present economic realities”.
To fast-track the full utilisation of the port, Governor Sani Bello said his administration has declared Baro town an urban settlement and has put in place a 10 kilometre radius developmental plan for the town.
This he said was a deliberate policy of his administration to ensure effective take-off of the in-land port.
“This is a big project that will not only open up this region, it will provide massive job opportunities and business ventures for our people and meet our electioneering promise of job creation,” Governor Bello stated.
Technical Officer in charge of the port, Mr. Ibrahim Shuaibu Vulegbo, told the governor that the dredging of the waterway from Baro to Lokoja had been completed while the port only required installation of the cranes and perimeter fencing.
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