Dr. Bolaji Akinola, the minister’s special adviser on media and communications, emphasized in a statement released on Sunday that no such contract was given out during the current government.
He clarified that any claims to the contrary are “inaccurate and should be regarded as misinformation,” as the Baro Port project predates the Oyetola-led ministry.
Adegboyega Oyetola has not given out any multibillion-naira contracts related to the Baro Port project. The project is not brand-new. Previous administrations were responsible for its conception, planning, and implementation, according to Akinola.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari, not the present administration, formally opened the Baro Inland Port in Niger State in 2019. Due to a lack of essential infrastructure, such as sufficient rail and road connections required for port operations, the facility has remained mainly non-operational since it was put into service.
Akinola went on to explain that although the project is still of national interest, no new contracts pertaining to Baro Port have been started by the current administration.
“We are not focusing on repeating previous efforts but rather on evaluating current infrastructure and developing a roadmap for sustainable development,” he continued.
Akinola clarified that there was not a summons nor an investigation of the minister, despite recent reports indicating that Oyetola was called by the National Assembly.
He went on to say that the Ad-hoc Committee on National Stakeholders Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of the Baro Inland Port had formally invited Oyetola to attend a stakeholders’ engagement session.
Akinola emphasized that the purpose of the meeting was to promote discussion and assess the Baro Port initiative’s present state and prospects. Akinola claims that the ministry’s presence at the engagement session demonstrated its dedication to working with all branches of government.
Stakeholder engagements are crucial to the development of policies and the assessment of projects, in our opinion. Our continued dedication to accountability, intergovernmental collaboration, and national growth is reflected in the Ministry’s involvement,” he stated.
According to him, the minister is still committed to promoting long-term development in Nigeria’s inland waterway and maritime industries while making sure that every naira invested is tracked.
“We implore the public and media to confirm information via the proper channels and refrain from disseminating baseless stories that might jeopardize the joint endeavors being undertaken to develop the nation’s infrastructure,” Akinola said in closing.
