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The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), in partnership with Parts Central Limited, has launched a nationwide clean-up initiative aimed at tackling pollution and improving the safety and navigability of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
The initiative was unveiled in Lagos on Tuesday as part of efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability and support the development of the country’s blue economy.
Speaking at the launch, NIWA Lagos Area Manager, Engineer Sarat Braimah, urged dredgers, boat operators, tank farm operators and waterfront owners to end practices that contribute to the pollution of the nation’s waterways.
Braimah said Lagos was chosen as the starting point because of its strategic importance to Nigeria’s economy and its extensive network of waterways.
“We are unveiling Parts Central as a partner to National Inland Waterways Authority. And what they are supposed to do is to help us in making sure that the inland waterways of Nigeria are clean and safe for navigation,” she said.
According to her, about one-third of Lagos State is covered by water, making the health of its waterways critical to economic activities and the realisation of the blue economy.
“If the water is clean, navigation will be easier. If the water is clean, it will create jobs for even our youth,” Braimah said.
She stressed that the clean-up programme would also create employment opportunities, particularly for young Nigerians, while supporting safer and more efficient inland water transport.
The NIWA official, however, expressed concern over indiscriminate waste disposal by some waterfront owners, dredgers, boat operators and tank farm operators.
She specifically identified the Kirikiri axis as one of the most polluted stretches of inland waterways, alleging that waste from tank farms was being discharged into the waterways.
“Waterfront owners don’t even see reason to have a soak away. They believe our water should take it away. This is wrong practice. We want to stop this,” she said.
Braimah also warned that indiscriminate dumping of plastic and other waste was damaging aquatic life and threatening the sustainability of Nigeria’s inland waterways.
She urged stakeholders to cooperate with NIWA and Parts Central, properly dispose of plastic waste and adopt environmentally responsible practices in their operations.
“Dump your plastic waste properly. This plastic waste can be recycled. It can be used economically to generate something for this nation,” she said.
Braimah added that NIWA would provide the necessary regulatory support for the initiative, while urging dredging operators to establish appropriate systems for managing wastewater generated from their operations.
Managing Director of Parts Central Limited, Henry Olaoluwa Onifade, said the company would deploy waste management infrastructure and technology across jetties and waterfront facilities as part of the partnership.
He disclosed that refuse bins would be installed on passenger boats, while every jetty would have a central “mother bin” where waste generated by passengers and operators could be deposited.
“We are deploying different types of technology that will capture every area and every waterfront,” Onifade said.
He added that landing points and other facilities would be equipped to ensure that boats and other watercraft operating on Nigeria’s inland waterways have approved waste bins.
According to him, the initiative will provide a structured system for collecting and transferring waste from boats and jetties, helping to prevent refuse from being discharged directly into the waterways.
The launch was attended by boat operators, dredgers, Lagos State Government officials and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s inland waterways sector.
The partnership between NIWA and Parts Central is expected to expand the clean-up programme beyond Lagos to other parts of the country, supporting cleaner waterways, safer navigation, environmental protection and the growth of Nigeria’s blue economy.
