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Nigeria is set for a major environmental and economic transformation as a far-reaching inland waterways clean-up programme, backed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), moves towards implementation to restore degraded waterways and unlock new opportunities within the nation’s blue economy.
The initiative, conceived during the tenure of former NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, has mandated indigenous environmental solutions firm, Parts Central Limited, to provide strategic oversight and drive implementation.
The project aims to combat decades of environmental abuse caused by indiscriminate waste disposal, oil pollution and other forms of degradation affecting Nigeria’s extensive inland waterways network.
Beyond clearing waste, the programme will identify major pollution sources, establish sustainable waste management systems and introduce waste-to-wealth initiatives capable of generating jobs for communities along the waterways.
The intervention is also expected to improve navigational safety by removing obstructions that impede vessel movement, while strengthening aquatic ecosystems and supporting the fisheries value chain.
Stakeholders say the project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the Marine and Blue Economy sector by repositioning inland waterways as strategic assets for economic growth.
Cleaner waterways are expected to stimulate commerce, attract local and foreign investment, boost tourism and enhance the efficiency of water transportation across the country.
Speaking ahead of the rollout, Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, described the initiative as a landmark intervention that will redefine environmental management across Nigeria’s waterways.
He assured Nigerians that the project would be executed professionally, with strong emphasis on transparency, sustainability and measurable outcomes.
Onifade also called for collaboration among government agencies, private sector operators, host communities, environmental organisations and maritime stakeholders, stressing that collective action would be critical to delivering long-term results.
He expressed confidence that sustained partnerships would usher in a new era of cleaner, safer and more productive inland waterways, establishing a new benchmark for environmental stewardship and waterway management in Nigeria.
